Did you know that Fluorescent and High Intensity Discharge (HID) Tubes contain harmful gases, such as mercury? Because of this, all fluorescent and HID lamps and tubes are considered hazardous waste and 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.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 800 million fluorescent lamps are disposed of annually. Unfortunately, not all of these lamps are disposed of properly.
When these lamps and tubes are placed in the trash and collected, they often break, releasing harmful gases into the environment. These vapors can be inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream, putting others, especially those close to the breakage, at risk. Mercury from these broken lamps and tubes can also be washed into waterways. And it only takes a single gram of mercury to contaminate a two-acre pond. The 800 million fluorescent lamps disposed of each year contain enough mercury to pollute 20 million acres of water. After learning this, it may be no surprise that fluorescent and HID lamp waste causes more mercury contamination of the environment than any other consumer product.
Fortunately, there are places and recycling centers just for this purpose. To find a center near you, please follow this link: Maryland Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Directory.
“Plus the metals and glass can be recycled depending on the types,” said TriStar Electric owner Dave Crawford.
If you have any questions about Proper Fluorescent and High Intensity Discharge (HID) Tube Disposal, please contact TriStar Electric, Maryland’s premier residential and commercial electrician, by calling 410-799-5791 or 301-384-8880 or fill out the contact form on our website. You can also follow TriStar Electric on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube.
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