Where To Dispose Of Fluorescent Lights

Luckily these tubes will last up to 15 000 hours so you won t need to worry about recycling them often.

Where to dispose of fluorescent lights.

They should not be disposed of in your curbside trash. That can lead to short term health risk for exposed individuals and lasting environmental damage to soil and water. Pcb containing ballasts become a concern if they are leaking or they will be removed and disposed of as hazardous waste. Why do cfl bulbs need special disposal.

Polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs were commonly used in the small capacitor within fluorescent light ballasts. Fluorescent tubes can last up to 15 000 hours making them a common choice for. Ballasts manufactured through 1979 may contain pcbs. So he has been taking his old bulbs to lowe s and home depot for recycling.

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. 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. 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. These bulbs are most commonly used for industrial lighting and in commercial buildings.

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

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. 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.

Cfl bulbs are considered hazardous waste in many areas and require a little more planning when it comes to disposal. Cfl bulbs contain about 5 milligrams of mercury which can be toxic to the environment.