Mercury Thermometer Exchange Programs

Program suspended due to lack of funding.

This program allows organizations to sponsor a community mercury thermometer exchange.  It gives participants the opportunity to trade in a mercury thermometer* and receive a new digital fever thermometer.  The program aims to increase public awareness about the environmental and public health dangers posed by mercury use and to reduce the risk of hazardous spills in households. 

*Suggestions on how to safely handle mercury thermometers
-  Put all your mercury thermometers inside one ziplock bag and seal it.
-  Fold the first bag enough to fit into a second bag and seal it.
-  Put the bagged thermometer in a safe place out of the reach of children.
-  Call your local health department's environmental health staff and ask about disposal. Refer
    to the "directory" page on the MALPH.org website for your local health department
    information.
-  If you have difficulty, call the toll-free MDCH Toxic's and Health Hotline at 1-800-648-6942.
-  Relax now that you've made your home safe from a mercury thermometer accident!

Holding an Exchange Event

• For information on How to Plan and Hold a Mercury Fever Thermometer Exchange go to www.noharm.org  click on "Mercury" then "Resources."
• Event Applications
  • Michigan Mercury Thermometer Exchange Progam - currently accepting applications
    
    • Application to run an event
  • Saginaw Bay Watershed (SBW) Thermometer Exchange Program.  Currently accepting applications for those counties in the SBW.  Please see map link below.
    
    • Application to run an event
    • Map of Saginaw Bay Watershed area

On-going Exchanges

• Monroe County will do exchanges at the following locations. For more information contact Maureen Pfund, Monroe County Environmental Health (734-240-7916 or Maureen_Pfund@monroemi.org) or Jamie Dean (734-240-7909 or jamie_dean@monroemi.org).
  • Monroe County Health Department 2353 South Custer Road, Monroe.
  • The Medicine Shoppe, 7455 Secor Road, Lamberville.
  • Macomb Pharmacy, 730 North Macomb Street, Monroe.
• Clinton County Department of Waste Management will take thermometers at 1307 E. Townsend Rd., Suite 102, St. Johns, Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00.  For more information contact 989-224-5186 or waste@clinton-county.org.
• Tuscola County Recyclying (TCR):  TCR will collect properly packaged mercury thermometers.  For more information, contact Kate Neese, 989-672-1673 or recycle@tuscolacounty.org.
• Mid-Michigan District Health Department will accept mercury thermometer at its Gratiot Branch office in Ithaca Monday-Friday during normal business hours (8:00 am until 5:00 pm, with the exception of being closed from noon until 1:00 pm for lunch, and closed on normal business holiday).  For more information contact Katie Allen at kallen@mmdhd.org, 989-875-1002.
• Sanilac MSU Extension will accept properly packaged mercury thermometers Monday-Friday during normal business hours 8:00 am until 4:30 pm. For more information contact Shelly Warczinsky at 810-648-2515 or warczins@msu.edu.