Hawaii Island Mercury Clean Up

On Saturday, May 10, Hawaii residents can rid their homes of dangerous mercury by bringing mercury fever thermometers and other mercury-containing devices to Kealakehe High School and Hilo High School between 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. for safe collection.

Kealakehe High School - Automotive Shop, Building S
(Enter campus at main gate, pass cafeteria, library, and woodshop, building is on the right)

Hilo High School - Wood Shop
(Enter main parking lot on Waianuenue Ave, go north on campus to Wood & Metal Shop)

Only items containing mercury will be accepted at these drop-offs. The "Hawaii Mercury Clean-Up" is sponsored in part by the Department of Health, Department of Education, Hawaii Pharmacists Association, and the Hawaii Poison Center.

Turn-in your old thermometers during the "Mercury Clean Up" and receive a coupon towards the purchase of new non-mercury thermometer from one of these participating pharmacies: Longs Drugs, Hilo Pharmacy, Ponahawai Pharmacy, Windward Pharmacy, Kaiser Hilo Pharmacy, Ululani Pharmacy, IPC Pharmacy Hilo, KTA Puainako Pharmacy, Shiigi Drug Co. Inc., Safeway Hilo Pharmacy, Liu’s Pharmacy Inc., Kaiser Kona Pharmacy, KMart Pharmacies, KTA Keauhou Pharmacy, Kona Compounding Pharmacy, Waikoloa Pharmacy, KTA Super Stores, Village Pharmacy-Waimea, The Foodland Medicine Cabinet, Kealakekua Pharmacy, Oshima Drug, Kamehameha Pharmacy, Ka’u Pharmacy, and Pahoa RX Pharmacy.

The mercury clean up is intended to remove mercury from the municipal waste stream and to educate Hawaii residents about the potential hazards posed by this toxic substance. Many common household products - such as thermostats, fluorescent light bulbs, switches and button batteries - contain mercury. When these products are incinerated, land filled or broken; the mercury can pollute the environment. All of these products can - and should - be disposed of properly at household hazardous waste collections or by calling a licensed hazardous waste disposal company.

Exposure to mercury can cause damage to the nervous system, brain, kidneys, liver and the immune system. If you suspect a mercury exposure may have occurred, or for other suspected poisonings, call the Hawaii Poison Center’s free 24-Hour hotline. On Oahu call 941-4411 and Neighbor Islands toll-free 1-800-362-3585. To find the hazardous waste collection site nearest you call the Hawaii County Solid Waste Office at 961-8339.

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For more information, contact

Marlyn Aguilar
Department of Health
Phone:(808) 586-4226
E-mail: maguilar@eha.health.state.us