In May 2000 an Ordinance was passed making the sale, import, or manufacture of mercury thermometers in San Francisco illegal. Subsequently, the State of California took action to ban mercury fever thermometers statewide.

Mercury thermometers have been identified as the number one household source of mercury pollution. The .5 gram of mercury in a thermometer is sufficient to contaminate 5,000,000 gallons of Bay water, and there are dangerously high levels of mercury in fish in the San Francisco Bay.

The Public Utilities Commission and Department of the Environment conducted the “Mercury Free May” promotion, where San Francisco citizens could bring their mercury thermometers to 9 different fire station locations every Saturday of the month. At these designated fire stations across the City, collections teams exchanged old mercury thermometers for new digital ones, free of charge.

The agencies also distributed coupons for $2-off digital thermometers—redeemable at all San Francisco Walgreen’s, Merrill’s and Safeway stores—via water bills, Val-Paks and other community outreach programs.

San Francisco City departments and external agencies endorsing this ban include: Public Utilities Commission, Department of the Environment, San Francisco Fire Department, Solid Waste Management Program, Public Utilities Commission Water Pollution Prevention Program, Clean Water Action, Center for Environmental Health, and California Communities Against Toxics.

Any one violating the ordinance may be found guilty of a misdemeanor, with a maximum $1000 fine and/or 6 month imprisonment in the County Jail.

The Public Utilities Commission funded the program at $100,000. Of that, $6,000 was used to buy the new thermometers, with the rest paying for publicity efforts.