GPS Systems Illegal in Garbage, Recycling & Drains E-Waste GPS systems can be disposed of through the County Household Hazardous Waste Program. If your GPS system is in good condition, consider donating it. Never Throw Away Never throw away GPS systems. Some GPS systems utilize mercury in the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel or the internal lamp to enhance lighting efficiency. GPS systems that don’t contain mercury contain other toxic metals that will leach into the environment if thrown away. Look for the Mercury Label Check the owner’s manual for any warnings about mercury and/or the “Hg” mercury symbol. The statement “may contain mercury” often means that it absolutely contains mercury. Items that contain mercury need to be disposed of as hazardous waste. Did You Know? Landfill Operators Use Their GPS Systems to Save Space GPS systems are helping landfill operators save space in the landfill for more trash. GPS can track where their machines are located; they can also tell machine operators how well trash is compacting. This is a big deal since trash can only be compacted so much, and they don’t want to waste time and fuel by repeating this process too many times. Read more. How Landfills Work To get an idea of how GPS systems help landfill operators, it’s important to understand how landfill operators pack trash into the ground.
