How To Dispose Of Fluorescent Light Bulbs With Mercury

But there are plenty of other types of lamps that contain more of the toxic chemical including neon and black lights fluorescents tanning bed lamps sodium and mercury vapor lamps metal halide and mercury short arc lamps.

How to dispose of fluorescent light bulbs with mercury. 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. Because these bulbs contain small. That can lead to short term health risk for exposed individuals and lasting environmental damage to soil and water. Why do cfl bulbs need special disposal.

Fluorescent bulb recycling all fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury and new jersey residents have many options regarding how to handle spent bulbs maine compact fluorescent lamp breakage study report. You can use this service to find mercury product recycling drop off locations. Acceptable items include fluorescent light bulbs thermometers thermostats button cell batteries and electronics. Other materials in the bulbs get reused.

The mercury inside fluorescent tube lights is hazardous so extra care should be taken to ensure that this material doesn t leak. Cfl bulbs are considered hazardous waste in many areas and require a little more planning when it comes to disposal. The mercury is also hazardous allowing these bulbs to be classified as universal waste. Identify what type of lamps you have.

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. Breathing mercury s fumes eating mercury contaminated fish or touching spilled mercury can be harmful. 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. Compact fluorescent light bulbs cfls are highly efficient.

Fluorescent tubes serve as an energy efficient alternative to incandescent light bulbs but they contain low levels of toxic mercury which can be released into the air or water if the tubes are broken. They use 75 percent less energy and on average last 7 to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs. Recycling prevents the release of mercury into the environment. Learn more about cfls and mercury.

Cfl bulbs contain about 5 milligrams of mercury which can be toxic to the environment. Compact fluorescent lamps cfls which are popular in many households contain 4 mg of mercury on average. This means cfl and fluorescent bulbs are accepted at most hhw facilities and home depot and lowe s.