Dispose Flourescent Bulbs

June 06, 2021

The EPA-recommended method for the safe disposal of all types of fluorescent light bulbs is actually recycling. Fluorescent tubes are more energy-efficient and cost-effective compared to incandescent bulbs and are used in many homes and businesses.

Light Bulbs Tubes Ballasts Lamps Metro Waste Authority Providing Safe Smart Answers For Waste Disposal Recycling In The Greater Des Moines Area

Ask them about any fees that may apply.

Dispose flourescent bulbs. Fluorescent lights must be disposed of or recycled properly because they contain mercury. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled. Fluorescent tubes are shipped to a bulb recycler that uses special machines to extract the mercury and breaks down the aluminum caps and glass casing.

They generally last anywhere between 15000 to 20000 hours. These long tubes are energy efficient and long-lasting a typical fluorescent bulb lasts 24000 to 36000 hours making them favorites for workshops. Lowes offers in-store recycling for plastic plant pots plastic bags CFL bulbs and rechargeable batteries.

Managing and Recycling CFLs Luckily under the Environmental Protection Agencys EPA Universal Waste Rule many mercury-containing light bulbs can be treated as non-hazardous waste if properly recycled. There are various ways to dispose of CFLs and the only incorrect way is by putting them in the garbage. Fluorescent tube bulbs can generally be recycled at the same sites that take used CFL bulbs but some retailers may not accept larger ones.

Place a broken fluorescent light tube in a resealable plastic bag. See disposal options below. How to Dispose of Four-Foot Fluorescent Lights.

Simply collect your CFL bulbs and drop them into the appropriate in-store recycling bin and Lowes will take care to dispose of them properly. Check with your local garbage and recycling center to see if it is ok to dispose of fluorescents and CFLs in the trash. EPA does and may require that you recycle CFLs and other mercury-containing light bulbs.

Never throw them away. Can I recycle fluorescent bulbs at Lowes. The mercury in urban storm water sediment results in part from improperly discarded fluorescent lamps and tubes.

Ask your sanitation department about recycling centers near you that accept fluorescent light tubes. Take the properly packaged fluorescent tubes to a local household hazardous waste collection site or a community event that indicates that they will accept fluorescent tubes for recycling. Store used fluorescent tubes in a closed container such as the tubes original cardboard packaging or a large plastic trash bag.

The reason is because of the mercury contained in each fluorescent bulb that has the potential to. In the US the states of California Maine Massachusetts Minnesota New Hampshire Vermont and Washington all prohibit throwing away fluorescents. March 1 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency EPA recommends that consumers looking to dispose of fluorescent bulbs avail themselves of the recycling programs in their local area. Mercury can be reused in new bulbs or products like thermostats. Standard mercury-containing fluorescent and HID lamps which fail the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure TCLP MUST be managed as a hazardous waste in accordance with New York State Hazardous Waste Regulations or the Universal Waste Rule.

Can I throw out my fluorescent bulbs. Store them outside in a sealed container and dispose of them as Household Hazardous Waste. Many local recycling or environmental regulatory agencies recommend sealing the storage container or bag prior to pickup.

Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury which is a hazard for your health and the environment. These lamps and tubes contain more than a half a ton of mercury. How to Get Rid of Fluorescent Tube Lighting.

Check Earth911 for your area and call ahead to be sure or take your used fluorescent tube bulbs to your nearest household hazardous waste site. Aluminum is recycled as scrap metal and the glass is downcycled into materials like concrete or ceramic tile. Air Out Room if Bulb Breaks.

Properly disposing of fluorescent bulbs and tubes is not as convenient as recycling plastics or cans but the safe removal of these toxic electrical products is critical. Some states and local jurisdictions have more stringent regulations than US. This applies to both residents of private homes along with businesses that wish to properly dispose of fluorescent tubes.

Is it illegal to dispose of fluorescent bulbs. Your area may prohibit disposal andor require recycling. Even though fluorescent bulbs have 4 milligrams of mercury each our waste management professionals at RedBins know that they still must be handled as a hazardous substance.

Because of the mercury the EPA considers fluorescent bulbs to be hazardous waste which cannot be disposed of through normal means. Call your local sanitation department and ask about hazardous waste drop-off sites near you. It is estimated that nearly 75 million waste fluorescent lamps and tubes are generated annually in California.

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