[NHCOLL-L:2367] Re: disposal of mounted specimens

[Ann Pinzl]

    When we had the same intention at the Nevada State Museum, we did
notify/consult with our regional Haz Mat agency.  They took a sample (an
ear) to determine how much arsenic there might be, and it wasn't significant
(as I certainly hoped and almost suspected).  Yet that consultation paid off
in arranging a "special burial" at our community dump.
    I don't know how it is where you live, but 'going to the dump' is almost
a social and gainful experience for some of the locals here, and we didn't
want anybody retrieving "perfectly good' game heads - nor did we want folks
to see us throw out stuff that people had donated to the museum as it might
cause folks to rethink donating to the museum ... so we had an early 6 AM
special dumping event and the items were immediately covered over and became
invisible to later visitors.
    Good luck.
Ann


Ann Pinzl
4020 Hobart Road
Carson City, Nevada 89703
USA
phone: 775 883 0463

----- Original Message -----
From: Carolyn Rebbert <crebbert at brucemuseum.org>
To: <NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2004 3:26 PM
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:2366] disposal of mounted specimens


> Dear Colleagues,
>
> We have deaccessioned some bird and mammal mounts, some of which no doubt
> were prepared with arsenic.  The mounts are in very bad shape and beyond
> repair.  What is the preferred method of disposal?  Is incineration
> acceptable or do we need to contact our town hazardous material officer?
>
> Thank you for any suggestions and assistance.
>
> Truly,
> Carolyn
>
> Carolyn Rose Rebbert
> Curator of Science
> Bruce Museum of Arts and Science
> 1 Museum Dr.
> Greenwich, CT 06830
> 203-869-6786 x334
> fax: 203-869-0963
> www.brucemuseum.org
>
>