Fluorescent lights

The federal government's decision in 2007 to phase out incandescent light globes by 2009-10 means that an increasing volume of energy-efficient lighting such as compact fluorescent lamps and fluorescent tubes will be used by households and businesses. While these types of lights have the advantage of lasting longer and requiring less electricity, their drawback is that many of them contain small amounts of mercury which could be absorbed into the environment. New recycling technology, however, will enable mercury-bearing lights to be recycled safely.

You can take your fluorescent tubes or lamps to a number of locations in Perth's Eastern Region (see the links below). By making the effort to dispose of your fluorescent lighting safely and correctly, you will be helping to convert potential waste into valuable resources.

EMRC has recently received funding from the Landfill Levy Fund and the State Energy Development Office for a study and trial into the collection and recycling of fluorescent lights, as a means of determining more effective ways to collect and recycle these lights during 2009-2010. The trial will be supported by Bunnings and several shopping centres.

To find out more about fluorescent recycling click on the links below:

How is my fluorescent lighting recycled?
What are my lamps and tubes made into?
Where can I recycle my fluorescent light tubes and CFL's?
Safety tips for the handling and transport of mercury-bearing lighting
What are some other useful sites about lighting?

 

How is my fluorescent lighting recycled? 

New recycling technology has meant that mercury-bearing compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and fluorescent tubes can now be recycled safely in Perth's Eastern Region.

Through the use of a crush and separation process, your tubes and lamps will be transformed into clean, usable products such as glass wool (used in household insulation batts), dental amalgam and fertilisers. 
 

What are my lamps and tubes made into?

Where can I recycle my fluorescent light tubes and CFLs?

Take them to any local Council office in Perth's Eastern Region:

Town of Bassendean - Community Service Centre
35 Old Perth Road, Bassendean
Open: Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm Tel: 9377 8000

City of Bayswater - Max Tulley Office and Information Centre
Centro Galleria Shopping Centre (opp. Post Office), Morley
Open: Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5.00pm Tel: 9272 0605

City of Belmont - Council Office
215 Wright Street, Cloverdale
Open: Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5.00pm Tel: 9477 7222

Shire of Kalamunda - Shire Office
2 Railway Road, Kalamunda
Open: Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5.00pm Tel: 9257 9999

Shire of Mundaring - Shire Office
7000 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring
Open: Mon-Fri 8.30am to 4.30pm Tel: 9290 6666

City of Swan - Council Office
Midland Square, Midland
Open: Mon-Fri 8.30am to 4.30pm Tel: 9267 9267

Other locations:

• Take your fluorescent lights to any Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day in Perth. These are held every 2-3 weeks in different locations across Perth. You can also check your 2009/2010 Waste & Recycling Guide for the next HHW Disposal Day. Look under the HHW & disposal sites tab.
• Check the Synergy website found at www.synergy.net.au for a list of recycling locations throughout Perth.
• The Red Hill Waste Management Facility transfer station has a fluorescent light recycling bin, located at 1094 Toodyay Road, Red Hill. Open daily, 7am - 4pm. Phone 9574 6235 for enquiries.

For more information:
Waste Education Officer
Tel: 1800 855 955 or 9424 2271
E-mail: mail@rgang.org.au

Safety tips for the handling and transport of mercury bearing lighting

Handling

Keep old tubes and lamps in a cool, dry location where they will not be at risk of breaking. Handle the lights carefully at all times. Do not bind them together with sticky tape or other adhesive - keep separate.

Transport

Pack the lights carefully, preferably with cushioning, so that they do not break while transporting them.

Disposal in marked bins or boxes

Place individual tubes or lamps carefully in the bins or boxes provided so that they do not break. Do not bind them together. Tubes which are broken or bound together slow the recycling process and can make handling difficult for staff.

What to do if you break a fluorescent tube or CFL

While ordinary incandescent lamps can be disposed of with the usual household rubbish, CFL's, fluorescent tubes and some other high intensity lamps may present a health hazard if not handled correctly when broken, as they contain mercury. Although the mercury content of fluorescent lighting is small, lighting companies typically recommend that if a CFL or tube breaks, people should:

• Open near windows and allow the room to ventilate for 15 minutes before cleaning up the broken light
• Do not vacuum the broken light as this can contaminate the appliance with mercury and spread the mercury through the air
• Use disposable rubber gloves rather than bare hands
• Use a disposable brush to very gently sweep up the pieces - making sure you don't scatter them more widely
• Use a moist paper towel to wipe up any remaining small fragments
• Wrap lighting remains in newspaper to ensure the glass cannot pierce a plastic bag and place in a bag or sealable container along with the cleaning equipment used (i.e. gloves, brush, damp paper) and
• Place in your outside rubbish bin.

Source: Department of the Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts

For more information:
Waste Education Officer
Tel: 1800 855 955 or 9424 2271
E-mail: mail@rgang.org.au 

What are some other useful sites about lighting?

Department of the Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts
A detailed web site on the safe disposal and care of mercury-bearing lamps.
(Note that the information on lamp recycling in Western Australia has not yet been updated).

CMA Recycling
Explanation of the recycling process for fluorescent lighting and other products which contain mercury.

Energy Efficient Lighting
A useful website providing information on a range of energy efficient lighting options their benefits and limitations, and safety tips.