The Waste Commission of Scott County, Iowa, has held their own Operation Medicine Cabinet during which residents could safely dispose of old medications, exchange mercury thermometers for a digital, pick up and drop off sharps containers, and have data-sensitive documents shredded free of charge. New this year, residents could also drop off compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which contain mercury.

http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=509554

Sadly, we are not so well organised. The removal of metalic mercury is a great idea, and in most cases the cost of a digital replacement will be far offset by sponsorship and savings on disposal costs.

Collecting old medicines, POMs or not, has substantial environmental benefit but reduces also the opportunities for accidental childhood poisinings, and maybe even an occasional intentional overdose.