Knoxville residents can exchange their old mercury thermometers for new, free digital thermometers from 10a.m. to 2 p.m., or as long as the supply lasts, on Saturday, October 1 at one of the Home Depot Stores located at Knoxville Center Mall 4710 Centerline Drive or, Knoxville West 9361 Kingston Pike.

Home Depot Safety Event

The event focuses primarily child safety. Police and Fire Department personnel will be on hand with demonstrations and will distribute information which will help families practice good safety habits.

Mercury thermometers at this year's event

Up to two old mercury thermometers per household may be exchanged at this event.

Sponsors of the event are the City of Knoxville, Knox County Health Department (KCHD), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Safe Kids Coalition of the Greater Knox Area and, Home Depot.

Mercury thermometers are both an environmental and a health and safety problem. For safety while transporting the thermometers, please bring them in their storage cases. If the case is not available or the thermometer is broken, the thermometer can be brought in a 12-ounce plastic soda bottle with a screw-cap lid.

This exchange is limited to mercury thermometers from households; other type of mercury-containing waste such as old non-digital thermostats, barometers, manometers and other household mercury waste or devices should be take to the Knoxville Household Hazardous Waste Center, 1033 Elm St., during regular business hours. The Center accepts wastes from Knoxville and Knox County households.

Additional information about the Knoxville Household Hazardous Waste Center is available at 865-215-6700.