Does our PL or FL tubes have mercury?

[juggler]

Was searching if there are companies in Singapore doing recycling of light tubes. And found this information that stated such FL tubes have small amounts of mercury.

Any idea?

[bclee]

Yes... all FL/PL contain mercury. Nasty stuff...


BC

[richietay]

don't know it exists in FL/PL tubes. so far all the while, when i going to discard them, usually bring it downstair to where the cleaners often do cleaning.

What are the enviromental friendly ones?

[juggler]

That's bad. A few times I accidentally broke tubes and just casually sweep away the glass. Didn't know it's harmful.

Any companies here recycle them or how do we dispose of them properly? As with some of our batteries containing mercury.

[richietay]

juggler, maybe can consolidate the used/fused tubes and see whether the garang guni uncle willing to recycle or discard in the proper manner for us.

[bclee]

BTW, MH bulbs contains mercury too.

Something I picked up from the internet in how to handle broken tubes...
source: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WPIE/FluoresLamps/
How to Clean Up Broken Lamps and Tubes

Households or Small Amounts of Breakage

In a household or for small quantity breakages, do not use a standard vacuum cleaner! Do not use ordinary residential and commercial floor vacuums, floor vacuums that trap dirt with water, or wet/dry shop vacuums. (For vacuum cleaning, only vacuums designed specifically for hazardous waste may be used.)

Instead of vacuuming, wear latex gloves and carefully clean up the fragments. Wipe the area with a damp disposable paper towel to remove all glass fragments and associated mercury.

Keep all people and pets away from area so that mercury-containing pieces and powder are not tracked into other areas.

Keep the area well ventilated to disperse any vapor than may escape.

After clean up is complete, place all fragments along with cleaning materials into a sealable plastic bag. Wash your hands. Recycle along with intact lamps.

Large Amounts of Breakage

For accidental breakage of larger numbers of lamps, such as a case or pallet, do not use a standard vacuum cleaner! Do not use ordinary residential and commercial floor vacuums, floor vacuums that trap dirt with water, or wet/dry shop vacuums. (For vacuum cleaning, only vacuums designed specifically for hazardous waste may be used.) Ventilate area where breakage occurred. Separate any unbroken lamps and cleanup breakage with a specialized mercury vacuum cleaner or other suitable means that avoids dust and mercury vapor generation. Place materials in closed containers. Recycle waste along with intact lamps.

Unfortunately, here in Singapore, programmes for the recycling/disposal of items containing hazardous substance is not well established. Items like batteries, FL tubes, MH bulbs, electrical equipment (containing lead solders) should be disposed properly. However, actions taken by NEA is targeted more at the industries rather than households.

If you would like to do a proper disposal, industrial waste collectors should be able to handle them. (http://www.nea.gov.sg/cms/pcd/tiwcollectors.pdf)

Currently, the old tubes are still sitting in my storeroom. I do not know where I can dispose of them.

BC

[bclee]

juggler, maybe can consolidate the used/fused tubes and see whether the garang guni uncle willing to recycle or discard in the proper manner for us.

Please do not pass to garang guni man. They probably do not take the proper care to dispose them.

BC

[bclee]

don't know it exists in FL/PL tubes. so far all the while, when i going to discard them, usually bring it downstair to where the cleaners often do cleaning.

What are the enviromental friendly ones?

Currently, it is still not possible to totally eliminate mercury from the tubes. The more environmentally friendly tubes uses less mercury. There are also laws coming into play limiting the amount of mercury to be used in lightings.

For those who are interested:
http://www.nema.org/gov/ehs/committe...l%203%2005.DOC

BC

[kemp]

i agree too. Most probably they will also throw it into the rubbish chute too

Please do not pass to garang guni man. They probably do not take the proper care to dispose them.

BC

[juggler]

bc: Thanks for the info. But too late. I had used the vacuum cleaner to make sure no glass shards are left on the floor. Why didn't the manufacturers state the proper method of disposal on the packaging?

I have written to NEA. See what they say about it.