Where To Dispose Of Fluorescent Lights

Fluorescent tubes can last up to 15 000 hours making them a common choice for.

Where to dispose of fluorescent lights. How to dispose of cfl and fluorescent light bulbs unlike incandescent bulbs cfl compact fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury about 4 milligrams of the toxic metal. These bulbs are most commonly used for industrial lighting and in commercial buildings. How to recycle fluorescent tubes. Recycling cfls and other fluorescent bulbs allows reuse of the glass metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights.

While compact fluorescent lightbulbs cfls have extensive recycling options through retail drop offs and mail in programs the same can t be said for fluorescent tubes. Pcb containing ballasts become a concern if they are leaking or they will be removed and disposed of as hazardous waste. Other materials in the bulbs get reused. Luckily these tubes will last up to 15 000 hours so you won t need to worry about recycling them often.

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. It s a small trade off for the benefit of more efficient bulbs which last longer and require less coal or oil fired electricity. Polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs were commonly used in the small capacitor within fluorescent light ballasts. Dave lake of colerain township has been replacing his unattractive fluorescent light bulbs in his home with new led bulbs.

They should not be disposed of in your curbside trash. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled. Ballasts manufactured through 1979 may contain pcbs. Cfl bulbs contain about 5 milligrams of mercury which can be toxic to the environment.

Your area may prohibit disposal and or require recycling. Fluorescent bulbs or tubes fall into the hazardous waste category since they also contain 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. Why do cfl bulbs need special disposal.

The mercury inside fluorescent tube lights is hazardous so extra care should be taken to ensure that this material doesn t leak. That can lead to short term health risk for exposed individuals and lasting environmental damage to soil and water.