Mercury Grant
The County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, Household Hazardous Waste Program(HHW) has been awarded a California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) grant to conduct an educational campaign and to collect mercury-containing waste. Some common household products that contain mercury include fluorescent lamps, fever thermometers, button batteries, as well as some switches and thermostats.

Mercury is a potent nerve toxin and persistent pollutant that will never go away. When mercury escapes into the environment, it is transported by air, rain or runoff and deposited in our creeks and Bay. It builds up in sediments at the bottom of water bodies, and over time, the mercury is passed up the food chain affecting fish, birds, animals and even humans.

This grant will fund a three year project that enables the County and cities to decrease the amount of mercury getting into the environment by raising public awareness and providing free drop-off programs for residents and small businesses.

For proper disposal of household hazardous waste and mercury-containing products please call (408) 299-7300 to arrange an appointment for a drop-off.

Enviromental Resources Agency Mercury Education Project funded by the California Integrated Waste Management Board