Some years ago, I had an old-fashioned thermostat that for some reason I had to replace. Inside it was a little capsule of mercury. Not wanting to throw it in the garbage, I took it out and put it on a shelf in my basement, where it resides to this day. So do I have to keep it there my whole life and leave it to my kids in my will? How the hell do I get rid of it?
Remember the scene in Monsters Inc. when the bio-hazard squad shows up because something human entered the monster world?
Your house is gonna get domed.
I used to have loads of fun playing with mercury when I was a kid. We had a small pill vial about half full of it. It was six kinds of entertaining.
So you’re saying I should get more?
Please don’t let this turn into an SDMB White Elephant Send-Sal-Some-Mercury kind of thing!
I believe you’re supposed to call a Hazmat team.
When I broke thermometer, I playfully pushed the droplets around with my index fingers for a while, wiped them up with a paper towel, and tossed it in the trash. But I wouldn’t recommend that.
–Cliffy
This (due to outrageous over the top fear) could be the right answer at this point in time.
just grind it into the carpet, it’ll evaporate away. no worries!
Use it to pan for gold!
I wish I’d been born early enough to get to play with mercury, just once. 
Chug!
Chug!
Chug!
Chug!
Chug!
Chug!
… no, not really!
It’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys. So…they don’t sell thermometers with mercury anymore? Damn the lousy luck. You could have done a fake science project like we did…break the thermometers, and you’re all set!
Just put it over there on the shelf, next to the drops of Jupiter.
Just don’t get any in your hair. Hey, hey.
I have a mercury thermometer. If you ever visit, I’ll break it open just for you.
Mercury - The magic metal!
You don’t need to call the HazMat team - what you need is a household hazardous waste program. Such things are usually run by a city or county. If you are having trouble finding it, try contacting your state environmental agency - I get these types of calls all the time. (If you tell me where you are I can help you track one down too.)
If the thermostat is still intact, you may be able to take it to a HVAC supplier - many participate in a free thermostat recycling program through the Thermostat Recycling Corporation. Call before you show up with it.
re: mercury thermometers: Many states (Indiana is one of them) are banning the sale of mercury thermometers, but there’s still plenty of mercury out there to play with. We just know now that it isn’t a good idea … no matter how darn cool the stuff is 
Here are some instructions on how to deal with mercury.
But you’re on your own if you need help with Uranus. 
Agreed. We have a county health dept. And a day every summer when you can dispose of old paint (not the horse) and stuff. I suspect they will have your answer.
Can someone eplain why mercury is bad for you? What would happen if you touched it? Do you get cancer?
No, you get mercury poisoning. Mercury is a heavy metal and your body has no mechanisms to get rid of it so it’ll sit in your body poisoning you forever. Well, there’s chelation therapy and elemental mercury like the kind in thermometers isn’t that easily taken up but better to avoid the stuff in the first place. It also causes birth defects. Google up “Minamata” to find out more about the lovely effects of mercury on the human body.
it’s neurotoxic, as well as other -toxics.
touching it, or even eating it isn’t as dangerous as breathing mercury vapors.