Mercury Roundup program comes to Windsor-Essex
Residents of Windsor-Essex can dispose of old mercury products at three drop-off locations
Residents of Windsor-Essex can now visit drop-off locations to safely dispose old products containing mercury.
The drop-off points are part of the Mercury Roundup program, an initiative funded in part with a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Cat Griffin, communications specialist with the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA), said that the waste management agency's goal is to gather leftover mercury and ensure it stays out of the environment.
She explained that products like old thermostats, barometers, thermometers and button batteries all contain the element, and should be brought in for proper disposal.
"Mercury is a chemical element, it can be neither created nor destroyed and it's very toxic," said Griffin.
"It can cause problems in pregnant women, it could cause problems respiratory, lungs, digestive, brain function, it's a heavy metal and it is very, very toxic, so we don't want it in the environment."
Mercury is also bio-accumulative, meaning that it remains in a person's body if ingested.
The following are the mercury drop-off locations:
- Windsor: 3560 North Service Road E.
- Kingsville: 2021 Albuna Townline (County Road 31).
- Regional landfill in Essex: 7700 County Road 18.
The chemical is also harmful if it finds its way into ground or water systems, said Griffin.
"We want it out so it's disposed of properly," she added.
Griffin explained that all collected mercury is routed to a facility in Sarnia where it can be processed in a non-toxic manner.
With files from Dale Molnar