Where To Dispose Of Fluorescent Lights

It s a small trade off for the benefit of more efficient bulbs which last longer and require less coal or oil fired electricity.

Where to dispose of fluorescent lights.

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. Ballasts manufactured through 1979 may contain pcbs. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled. 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.

Recycling cfls and other fluorescent bulbs allows reuse of the glass metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights. Other materials in the bulbs get reused. 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. That can lead to short term health risk for exposed individuals and lasting environmental damage to soil and water.

Luckily these tubes will last up to 15 000 hours so you won t need to worry about recycling them often. Cfl bulbs are considered hazardous waste in many areas and require a little more planning when it comes to disposal. Polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs were commonly used in the small capacitor within fluorescent light ballasts. They should not be disposed of in your curbside trash.

How to recycle fluorescent tubes. 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. Dave lake of colerain township has been replacing his unattractive fluorescent light bulbs in his home with new led bulbs. Pcb containing ballasts become a concern if they are leaking or they will be removed and disposed of as hazardous waste.

So he has been taking his old bulbs to lowe s and home depot for recycling. The mercury inside fluorescent tube lights is hazardous so extra care should be taken to ensure that this material doesn t leak. Why do cfl bulbs need special disposal. Cfl bulbs contain about 5 milligrams of mercury which can be toxic to the environment.

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.