Meat Thermometer Hazardous Waste Illegal in Garbage or Drains Contains Mercury Find out what to do with hazardous waste How to Check for Mercury A silver, metallic liquid will be visible from inside the bulb or vial if the thermometer contains mercury. If it does contain mercury, do not throw it away. Never Throw Away Vintage Thermometers Vintage meat thermometers are more likely to contain mercury, so should never be thrown away. Instead, dispose of these as Household Hazardous Waste. Digital Thermometers Are E-Waste Remove batteries and dispose of them by following these instructions. Then, you can recycle the rest of the digital meat thermometers as e-waste because they contain small electronic parts. Ways to Reduce Don't Purchase Mercury If you purchase less mercury, there’s also less of a chance it can be improperly disposed of, which reduces the amount that can leach into lakes and rivers.