LINCOLN – The town will start recycling mercury and mercury switches found within old freezers, refrigerators, hot water heaters, sump and bilge pumps, fluorescent bulbs and batteries, but from residents only, town officials said.

The program will begin on Jan 1. It is free of charge.

No mercury items can be placed in trash any longer, town officials said. Businesses must contact local environmental firms to process mercury, which is poisonous and deadly if absorbed into the body in concentrated form.

Lincoln will also collect mercury-carrying trash from Chester, Mattawamkeag and Winn every quarter and will bill each town accordingly.

Town workers will be trained to remove and safely handle mercury, although a contractor will be hired to haul it away from the town dump.