Can you put mercury thermostats and thermometers in a dumpster?

Short answer: Never. Old thermostats with mercury switches must be recycled.

Why

NERC's 2020 compendium counts 23 states that ban mercury-containing products from disposal. Montana bans their sale but not landfill disposal. The Thermostat Recycling Corporation runs a national take-back network for mercury thermostats.

What to do with them instead

Use a Thermostat Recycling Corporation drop-off (often at HVAC wholesalers) or HHW.

Sources

NERC - Disposal Bans & Mandatory Recycling in the United States (PDF)
Thermostat Recycling Corporation
California DTSC - Universal Waste
EPA - Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Checked October 2026. Rules change; your hauler's prohibited-items list is the final word.

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Car batteries (lead-acid)
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