Where To Dispose Of Fluorescent Lights

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.

Where to dispose of fluorescent lights.

The mercury inside fluorescent tube lights is hazardous so extra care should be taken to ensure that this material doesn t leak. How to recycle fluorescent tubes. That can lead to short term health risk for exposed individuals and lasting environmental damage to soil and water. So he has been taking his old bulbs to lowe s and home depot for recycling.

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. Ballasts manufactured through 1979 may contain pcbs. It s a small trade off for the benefit of more efficient bulbs which last longer and require less coal or oil fired electricity. 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. 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. 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.

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. Other materials in the bulbs get reused. Dave lake of colerain township has been replacing his unattractive fluorescent light bulbs in his home with new led bulbs. Why do cfl bulbs need special disposal.

Fluorescent tubes can last up to 15 000 hours making them a common choice for. They should not be disposed of in your curbside trash. Polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs were commonly used in the small capacitor within fluorescent light ballasts. Your area may prohibit disposal and or require recycling.

Pcb containing ballasts become a concern if they are leaking or they will be removed and disposed of as hazardous waste. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled.