Reception of energy-saving fluorescent lamps: rules and methods of disposal

Often people do not think about the rules for the disposal of energy-saving light sources. The used material is thrown into the trash can, without reasoning about the possible consequences. But this type of waste is dangerous for nature, so you need to contact the collection points for fluorescent lamps, where they are disposed of without harm to the environment.

Consequences of Wrong Disposal

Used fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and are classified as hazardous waste. Do not dispose of such materials with other waste. Only licensed special organizations can transport and dispose of mercury-containing lamps.

When such used appliances end up in a landfill together with household waste, it leads to devastating consequences for the environment. Poisonous elements enter the environment and harm:

• atmosphere;
• soil;
• biosphere;
• water.

Mercury poisoning is especially dangerous. Lamps, thrown into a garbage chute or landfill, fall on the surface of the earth, and then penetrate into sewage and groundwater. This path inevitably leads to the pollution of water bodies in which fish live. And when it is consumed in food, doses of mercury are transferred to a person.

One of the features of this substance is the difficulty of its elimination. When a significant amount of mercury accumulates in the body, a concentration of toxins is formed. Defeat occurs:

• digestive system;
• nervous system;
• kidney;
• lungs.

In addition, human immunity is damaged. And the greatest danger mercury brings to the reproductive capacity of women.

Varieties of mercury-containing light bulbs

All energy saving fluorescent lamps contain mercury. These products have the following composition:

• inert gas (most often argon);
• liquid metal;
• phosphor (calcium-zinc orthophosphate, calcium halophosphate).

One fluorescent lamp contains up to 5 mg of mercury. This component is also present in the following product varieties:

• neon;
• xenon;
• bactericidal.

Other types of lamps

LED devices are the most environmentally friendly products. They do not contain mercury and there are no special disposal requirements. They can be recycled.

But manufacturers of some LED bulbs use lead and other harmful substances in order to reduce the cost of production of models. Therefore, even these products are recommended to be disposed of properly.

Incandescent lamps are very popular. Undoubtedly, their main advantage is environmental friendliness. In this type of product, the light source is a tungsten filament, and the device itself contains inert gases.

One type of incandescent light bulb is a halogen bulb. Halogens or their varieties are placed in the flasks of such devices. The use of these substances allows the product to work longer. Used incandescent devices do not require special disposal, although they can be returned for recycling.

Disposal methods

Read the safety precautions before disposing of energy saving lamps. If the bulb of a product containing mercury is damaged, you need to:

• thoroughly ventilate the room;
• carefully collect large fragments;
• small particles are best collected with duct tape or disposable wipes. In no case should you use a vacuum cleaner;
• do wet cleaning with chlorine-containing products.

Do not dispose of remnants of mercury-containing bulbs down the drain or together with other household waste. Broken items must be taken to a collection point together with undamaged appliances.

List of places where you can go for the disposal of fluorescent lamps:

• reception centers of specialized companies licensed to work with hazardous waste;
• containers at management organizations, REU, DEZ. Delivery of devices is free of charge;
• collection points at stores selling such products. The most popular of them are "220 volts" and IKEA. At many points, you can not only give away old fixtures, but also get a discount on the purchase of a new light bulb.

Companies, as well as individual entrepreneurs, who recycle fluorescent lamps, must obtain a license to work with hazardous waste (these include products containing mercury). For violation of this rule, a fine may be imposed on a legal entity. According to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, it reaches 250,000 rubles.

Alternative methods

Many people live in small villages and towns, and reception centers are most often located in large cities and regional centers. If it is not possible to visit the collection point for mercury-containing lamps, you can contact organizations that can help in the disposal of devices:

• Electrical networks. In any farm or village there are electric lines and there is an organization that provides their maintenance. The company always employs an energy specialist who is responsible for the light sources. It is to him that you can turn, because one of the duties of a power engineer is to control the disposal of such devices. Even if another specialist is responsible for this, it is not so difficult to contact him. The only question is whether he wants to help free of charge. It may be necessary to pay for the services of a company that is engaged in the destruction of such devices or reimburse the costs of transportation to the disposal site.
• District or village administration. According to the decree No. 681 of 03/09/2010, control over the disposal is their responsibility, therefore the refusal is considered illegal. The administration must inform the residents of exactly when the vehicle will arrive and deliver the appliances to the recycling facility. If the organization does not respond to requests for assistance, a complaint should be made to a higher authority. If this does not work either, you should contact Rosprirodnadzor or the prosecutor's office.
• If there are multi-storey buildings in the village, the management company or REU should deal with the disposal of mercury-containing devices. These structures have an agreement with companies for the processing of such waste. It is enough to come to the UK or REU and hand over the used or damaged light sources. Refusal of assistance is illegal, therefore, in the event of violations, you should contact the prosecutor's office or Rosprirodnadzor.
• The Ministry of Emergency Situations is another organization that can provide assistance in the disposal of energy-saving light bulbs. Although getting rid of such devices is not part of the duties of the Ministry of Emergency Situations employees, they have contacts with processing companies, as well as the ability to transport light sources.

In addition, any home improvement or hardware store owner who sells mercury-containing devices, is obliged to conclude an agreement for their processing with a company that provides similar services. Therefore, residents of a village or other settlement can bring used appliances to the store. However, you need to be prepared for the owner to try to get rid of this responsibility, since the costs of transportation and disposal will fall on his shoulders.

Transportation rules

Each device must be placed in a cardboard box or wrapped in thick material in several layers. Items must be stacked in such a way that they do not fall when moving. When transporting in a car, it is better to avoid sudden maneuvers. These recommendations apply to individuals who independently deliver mercury-containing lamps to a recycling facility.

There are special rules for companies licensed to transport and dispose of these devices. Therefore, a person wishing to open a collection point must not only obtain a permit and a license, but also purchase a special container for transporting light sources.

Secondary use

In the production of incandescent lamps, components that are harmful to health are not used, moreover, they have an attractive appearance. Therefore, such products are often used for creative ideas. There are the following popular ideas for counterfeiting:

• Christmas decorations;
• floating vase;
• candlestick;
• hanging miniature garden;
• various containers for decorative purposes;
• interesting items for interior decoration;
• mini-terrarium.

Professional subtleties

The recycling process is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. There are at least 4 ways to dispose of mercury-containing light sources:

• Hydrometallurgical. To extract the mercury, the crushed devices are washed with special compounds.
• Thermal vacuum. The bulbs are crushed and heated in a vacuum, mercury vapor is collected in a special compartment, and then frozen with nitrogen.
• Thermal. The bulbs are pierced in a special container, and then mercury vapor is extracted.
• Vibro-pneumatic. Bulbs are divided into glass, steel, aluminum and phosphor (which is thermally purified from mercury).

After utilization, bases, cullet and phosphor are obtained from luminescent devices. These raw materials are used to make metal and building materials. If the flasks of the used products are intact, they can be used for the production of new models.

Although modern light sources are considered environmentally friendly and durable, it is important to think about the safety of the environment. Lamps containing mercury must be disposed of properly. This will not only avoid harm to the environment, but will also provide significant benefits in the form of recycling devices.