McKean County Pa. Mercury Collection Tops 40 Pounds

“Both the environment and public health will benefit with this hazardous material removed from homes and schools,” Burch said. “McKean County Commissioners have shown leadership and concern for the quality of life in their county by enthusiastically supporting the collection. The local-state partnership was successful in creating a safe, no-cost way for residents and school administrators to safely dispose of mercury.”

The DEP Upper Allegheny Watershed Team and McKean County Recycling Coordinator Dick Tyger coordinated the recent mercury collection. Residents and schools contacted the county prior to the collection date to schedule a pickup appointment; DEP conducted the door-to-door collection.

“The collection was a success because the people of McKean County took seriously the information about the dangers of mercury, and they responded by taking the time to look around their schools and homes,” Tyger said. “A significant amount of the collection was elemental mercury stored in glass jars and other containers.”

In addition to the elemental mercury, mercury-containing devices were also collected. DEP picked up mercury at 12 homes and three schools.

Mercury is a persistent bioaccumulative substance that poses human health, environmental and economic risks even from small quantities. For more information on mercury, please visit the PA PowerPort at www.state.pa.us, PA Keyword: “mercury.”