Should I recycle fluorescent light bulbs/tubes?
The short answer is yes. Fluorescent bulbs are likely to contain mercury. Bulbs that have green tips or green etching have a small enough amount of mercury to be considered “safe” and can be disposed in a dumpster or landfill. All other bulbs have unknown mercury content. This being the case, they must be recycled. The EPA “strongly recommends” that all fluorescent bulbs be recycled.
How can I recycle fluorescent bulbs?
In order to recycle fluorescent bulbs, you will need to find a recycler in your area. Most recyclers will send prepaid containers that hold 32 to 128 bulbs. The bulbs can then be packed and shipped to the recycler. This is the most economical solution for small quantities of bulbs.
For larger quantities, you may want to consider purchasing a “bulb crusher”. These machines typically fit on top of a 55 gallon drum. The bulbs are crushed and air is exhausted through a high level filtration system, removing nearly all mercury vapor. 1,000 – 1,500 bulbs can be crushed into one 55 gallon drum. The bulb remnants are shipped to the recycler in an efficient, compacted form.
Can I collect and transport used fluorescent bulbs?
Unless you are a licensed transporter, you cannot transport crushed bulbs, and you cannot transport bulbs to be crushed. You can, however, transport a limited number of used bulbs, store them and ship them un-crushed to a recycler. The EPA guidelines can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/wastes/hazard/wastetypes/universal/lamps/index.htm
Here are some links to companies that recycle bulbs in small and large quantities.
http://www.recycletechnologies.com/bulbs.html
Should I recycle Compact Fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s)?
Compact fluorescent bulbs also contain a small amount of mercury and should be recycled. Some retailers are participating in FREE recycling of CFL’s. http://www6.homedepot.com/ecooptions/index.html?MAINSECTION=cflrecycling?