Andover, like all other municipalities, is required to recycle all products that contain mercury. These include fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs, thermometers, thermostats, tilt switches, manometers, and button batteries.
What should you do when you need to dispose of any of these? Place the item in the Mercury Recycling disposal box that is in the Recycle Building at the Andover Transfer Station. If you need assistance, please see one of the attendants.
Also, if you are disposing of an appliance such as a refrigerator or dryer, please remove the mercury switch and place it in the Mercury Recycling disposal box.
Keeping mercury out of the environment is a zero-tolerance policy, and Transfer Station attendants will be vigilant about acceptable appliances and about keeping mercury out of the scrap metal bin and the trash hopper.
Why is this important, and why did the New Hampshire Legislature pass a law mandating mercury recycling? Mercury is a toxic chemical that accumulates in our bodies and never breaks down into non-toxic forms. Mercury can damage several parts of the body, including the liver, kidneys, and especially the brain, where it may cause neurological disorders.
Mercury must not be released into the environment! One very common source of mercury is households that discard fluorescent lamps, thermostats, etc. in the garbage.
Once mercury is released into the air, water, or ground, it moves through the environment and is absorbed by plants and animals. Small amounts of mercury build up in the environment over time and easily move up the food chain, as larger animals eat smaller animals. This is especially true of fish, which is the main way people ingest it.
New Vigilance in Effect
Effective November 1, all shipments of scrap metals of any kind will require a signed Mercury Form addendum to the bill of lading. A hauling fee will be charged if the form is not there and the hauler has to leave and return. The haul fee that Andover pays for each container of scrap metal is approximately $150.