QA

How To Dispose Of Fluorescent Lights

NYC Department of Sanitation – Residents can recycle fluorescent tubes (up to 4 feet long) and CFLs at Self Help Special Waste Drop-Off Sites and at annual NYC SAFE Disposal Events. Recycle in your Building – Many vendors offer mail-back recycling services. Visit www.lamprecycle.org to find resources.

Can you put fluorescent tubes in the bin?

Please Remember: Fluorescent lights must go to your Recycling Centre as they are hazardous – please do not put them in your bin at home. Old style incandescent or Tungsten light bulbs cannot be recycled, so please put them in your refuse bin.

How should fluorescent bulbs be disposed of?

All fluorescent lamps and tubes must be recycled, or taken to a household hazardous waste disposal facility, a universal waste handler (e.g., storage facility or broker), or an authorized recycling facility.

Can you recycle fluorescent tubes at Lowes?

Keep in mind Lowe’s stores offer a recycling center (usually near the entrance) that accepts plastic bags, CFL bulbs, rechargeable batteries, and cellphones. Simply bring your items in, follow instructions at the recycling center, or garden center, and Lowe’s will take care of the rest.

Can I take fluorescent bulbs to the tip?

Household fluorescent tubes may be taken to your local council recycling centre. No business waste to go into these containers. All waste light bulbs should be placed inside the container.

Why are fluorescent tubes hazardous?

Fluorescent tubes can be very harmful to the environment, wildlife and even humans. Any variety of fluorescent lighting contains mercury, a highly toxic metal. If incorrectly disposed of, mercury can dissipate into the atmosphere which allows it to contaminate water supplies and wildlife.

Are fluorescent tubes hazardous waste?

Fluorescent tubes are classified as hazardous waste, falling under the section of industrial products. This means that they need to be recycled differently to normal waste, otherwise they could harm the environment, wildlife and even humans.

Does Home Depot or Lowes recycle light bulbs?

Lowe’s does not recycle incandescent light bulbs as they can’t be recycled. Instead, incandescent light bulbs should be thrown away with your other household waste.

Does Lowe’s or Home Depot recycle fluorescent tubes?

The biggest market for CFL recycling is retailers (like Home Depot and Lowe’s), which accept them for free but only from consumers. CFLs are more widely purchased by consumers in these retail stores, whereas fluorescent tubes are more often used in offices.

What can I recycle at Home Depot?

Basic Disposal Paint. Batteries. Leaves and Lawn Clippings. Computers, Eyeglasses, Cell Phones. Food Scraps. Household Cleaners.

What if I break a fluorescent tube?

When broken, mercury vapors may be released into the air. The mercury released from broken bulb is mostly in vapor form. If properly cleaned up, broken bulbs or CFLs do not pose a serious health risk. The Environmental Health and Safety Department may be contacted for consultation and assistance.

What’s inside a fluorescent tube?

A fluorescent lamp consists of a glass tube filled with a mixture of argon and mercury vapour. The inside of the tube is coated with phosphors, substances that absorb ultraviolet radiation and fluoresce (reradiate the energy as visible light).

What is the white powder in a fluorescent tube?

The white powder that you see inside a fluorescent light bulb is called phosphor, which is a substance that emits visible light whenever it absorbs ultra violet energy waves. The phosphor used in a fluorescent light bulb is what determines both the color temperature and the color rendering index.

How do I dispose of fluorescent light bulbs UK?

Energy efficient light bulbs are a type of fluorescent lamp and can be recycled at local recycling centres. Older style ‘incandescent’ bulbs aren’t recyclable and should be thrown away in your rubbish bin.

How do I dispose of old light fixtures UK?

If your community has a permanent facility for accepting e-waste (and most places do), they should be able to take old light fixtures off your hands. If your community does not have an electronic waste disposal center, find out if anyone does special e-waste collection days throughout the year.

How do you dispose of WEEE?

Under the WEEE system, householders have a duty to dispose of their electrical waste properly. If the item of electrical or electronic equipment has a crossed out wheelie bin symbol on it, do not dispose of in your bin but instead take it to the nearest household waste recycling or civic amenity centre.

Does Lowes recycle compact fluorescent bulbs?

Lowe’s offers in-store recycling for plastic plant pots, plastic bags, CFL bulbs and rechargeable batteries! Simply collect your CFL bulbs and drop them into the appropriate in-store recycling bin, and Lowe’s will take care to dispose of them properly.

What can I do with compact fluorescent bulbs?

If your state or local environmental regulatory agency permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the regular household trash, seal the bulb in a plastic bag and put it into the outside trash for the next normal trash collection.

How do you dispose of burned out LED bulbs?

Big-box stores like Lowes, Home Depot, and IKEA may offer in-store recycling bins where you can drop off your old LED light bulbs. Contact your local store for details. Many municipal safety departments offer both LED and CFL recycling on specific days or at set locations. Check with your city.

Can LED light bulbs be recycled?

LEDs. Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs do not contain mercury but are made with other hazardous substances such as lead and arsenic. Many communities will not accept these bulbs in their recycling program, which means most people throw their burnt out bulbs in the trash, by default.