Skin-Lightening Products Accepted at Hazardous Waste Facilities

Washington County is asking that residents keep skin care products found to contain mercury out of their trash cans and instead take them to a hazardous waste facility, according to a Washington County press release.

The request comes after the Minnesota Department of Health advised the public to stop using 11 skin lightening products found to contain the chemical.

The skin creams (shown here) contain mercury at levels ranging from 135 to 33,000 parts per million (ppm), according to the press release. Under federal law these products can contain no more than trace amounts of mercury, "and only if it is impossible to avoid adding it during the manufacturing process," according to the press release.

The creams can be dropped off at the at 4039 Cottage Grove Drive in Woodbury. It is open from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Thursdays and from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturdays.