Proper Disposal Of Fluorescent Lamps

They should not be disposed of in your curbside trash.

Proper disposal of fluorescent lamps.

Recycling prevents the release of mercury into the environment. These bulbs are most commonly used for industrial lighting and in commercial buildings. The mercury inside fluorescent tube lights is hazardous so extra care should be taken to ensure that this material doesn t leak. In some areas it s actually illegal to dispose of fluorescent tubes in the trash so be sure to follow the proper steps in recycling your fluorescent tubes to avoid breaking the law or damaging people s health.

The new rule became effective on jan. In illinois the newly amended universal waste rule encourages recycling or proper disposal of waste lamps. Fluorescent tubes can last up to 15 000 hours making them a common choice for business classrooms etc. Fluorescent tube bulbs can generally be recycled at the same sites that take used cfl bulbs but some retailers may not accept larger ones.

Ballasts manufactured through 1979 may contain pcbs. Fluorescent lamps are hazardous because they contain mercury. The universal waste rule of 1995 was designed to reduce the amount of rcra hazardous waste disposed of in municipal waste landfills encourage recycling and proper management of some common hazardous wastes and reduce the regulatory. Many local recycling or environmental regulatory agencies recommend sealing the storage container or bag prior to pickup.

The illinois pollution control board amended the illinois universal waste rule on april 2 1998 to cover lamps that meet the definition of hazardous waste. Cfls and other fluorescent bulbs often break when thrown into a dumpster trash can or compactor or when they end up in a landfill or incinerator. Disposal of fluorescent light ballasts flb polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs were commonly used in the small capacitor within fluorescent light ballasts. Store used fluorescent tubes in a closed container such as the tubes original cardboard packaging or a large plastic trash bag.

Check earth911 for your area and call ahead to be sure or take your used fluorescent tube bulbs to your nearest household hazardous waste site. Other materials in the bulbs get reused. Fluorescent bulbs or tubes fall into the hazardous waste category since they also contain mercury. Easily identifiable by their narrow glass tubes twisted into curlicue shapes compact fluorescent bulbs cfls fit into standard light fixtures and last 8 000 to 20 000 hours.

Learn more about cfls and mercury.