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Instructions for Mercury Switch Recycling Program
When you receive your box and bucket from ELVS:
- Put the Hazardous Waste sticker and current date on the bucket
- Line the bucket with the plastic
- Save the box the bucket came in and the pre-paid return postage to use when you are ready to ship.
Filling the bucket
- DO NOT remove mercury pellet from switch. If a glass pellet was removed from the switch, pack it in a padded container before putting it in the bucket to prevent it from breaking.
- Fill out the log form with vehicle make, model, and year. You must do this to receive the $4 payment for each switch.
- Do not include switches that don’t contain mercury, or mercury waste that does not come from automobiles.
- Do not include broken or leaking pellets. Call DEP or find cleanup instructions
- Information on which cars contain switches, where they are located, and how to remove them is available online at Elvsolutions (click the educational materials link) or by calling Maine DEP: 287-8556.
Sending in the bucket
- Send in within 3 years, even if it isn’t full.
- 10 days before sending in bucket, order a new bucket: call 800-495-6059, leave a message with your business name and shipping address saying you need a new bucket.
- Count the number of switches you are sending and write down the number somewhere on/in the bucket.
- If you want to be paid $4 for each switch, put the log form with make, model and year in the bucket.
- Pack the closed bucket in a cardboard box.
- Attach the pre-paid shipping label, and bring to a UPS drop-off location (go to ups.com for a list of drop-off locations).
If you have questions or need assistance, call Maine DEP: 287-8556