Knoxville residents can exchange their mercury thermometers for new, free digital thermometers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or as long as the supply lasts, on Saturday, June 11 at West Town Mall's Safe Summer Event.

Up to two thermometers per household may be exchanged.Sponsors of the event are the City of Knoxville, Knox County Health Department (KCHD), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Safe Kids Coalition of the Greater Knox Area.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.