Hennepin County and Covanta Energy Corporation are partnering to encourage residents to properly dispose of mercury-containing items and will reward them for doing so.

Starting Oct. 2, residents who dispose of a mercury-containing item at a Hennepin County Drop-off Facility will receive a $5 Menards gift certificate from Covanta Energy as a thank you for helping to keep mercury out of the environment.

Mercury in the environment is a concern because exposure to it can be harmful to humans and wildlife. Old mercury-containing items must not be placed in the trash and should be recycled instead.

Mercury-containing items eligible for this program include:

         ·      Thermostats

         ·      Thermometers

         ·      Jars of mercury

         ·      Blood-pressure cuffs

         ·      Antique clocks, barometers and mirrors

         ·      Vintage toys and games, including chemistry sets and maze games

         ·      Vintage/antique sport and recreational items, including archery bows, fishing lures, golf balls

         ·      Skin-lightening creams

To participate in the program, residents can bring a mercury-containing item to a Hennepin County Drop-off Facility for recycling. Residents will complete a form, and Covanta Energy will mail them a gift certificate.

Hennepin County drop-off facilities are located at 1400 W. 96th St. in Bloomington and 8100 Jefferson Highway in Brooklyn Park. The facilities are open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This offer is available Oct. 2, 2012, to March 1, 2013, while supplies last. There is a limit of one gift certificate per address.