WAYNE, Mich. — EQ-The Environmental Quality Company is partnering with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Mercury Collection Project. This is an ongoing effort to collect and properly recycle mercury. The project’s objective is to address this issue and promote a long-term solution for easily collecting and recycling mercury-containing devices. The program is free to anyone located in Michigan — residents included.

To participate, EQ will send a free collection bucket with a shipping box to your door via common carrier upon request. Each bucket will contain easy-to-follow return instructions. Once the bucket is filled with the mercury-containing device(s), apply the return label (provided with the bucket), securely tape the box, and place it where the designated shipper normally picks up packages. EQ will facilitate the recycling of the mercury-containing device(s). Most mercury items can be returned through this mail-back program. Some examples of eligible mercury-containing devices include thermostats, thermometers, gauges with silver colored liquid inside, dental amalgam, hydrometers, etc.

The program ends Sept. 30, 2013.