The recycling of mercury-containing light bulbs and other types of lamps minimizes the release of mercury into the air around you, and into the environment. Lamps, fluorescent tubes and CFLs are easily broken and can end up in a trash can because most people don’t know where to recycle their lamps, or even that they should recycle them. Some of the components of a lamp can be recycled, but not all of them. The glass from a lamp is permanently contaminated and cannot be used as glass again. Sometimes, the glass can be added as a feedstock for concrete, asphalt or other building materials. If it cannot be recycled there is a beneficial reuse as daily cover for landfills to prevent birds and other wildlife from entering the landfill and spreading waste to surrounding areas. The mercury is isolated, retorted and sold back into industry. The end caps and other ferrous and non-ferrous metals are also removed and returned to industry.

1. What is Lamp Recycling?

2. • Yes, you can! Lamp recycling is about preventing
industrially-altered methyl mercury from
contaminating our water and fish;
• Most lamps contain mercury, which is a neurotoxin
and is commonly known as quicksilver;
• The recycling of mercury-containing light bulbs and
other types of lamps minimizes the release of
mercury into the air around you, and into the
environment.
Can you Recycle Light Bulbs and Other types of Lamps?

3. Mercury Quantity in Lamps per item
Source:
Osram Sylvania

4. Mercury Quantity in Lamps per item
Source:
Osram Sylvania

5. How does mercury contamination happens?
Source:
EPA

6. • Around the world there are billions of burnt-out
fluorescent and other mercury-containing lamps
in landfills;
• A large percentage of a lamp, often over 50%, will
go to landfills even if it’s recycled in the right way;
• In Ontario only 10-20% of mercury-containing
lamps are sent to a mercury management facility;
• Fluorescent tubes, CFLs, HID, neon, mercury
vapor, high pressure sodium and metal halide
lamps are all considered to be universal hazardous
waste, because they contain mercury and need to
be processed at end-of-life.
Mercury Containing Lamp Recycling Facts

7. • The key to an effective recycling and waste diversion program is managing the
items or materials at end of life in an environmentally friendly and responsible
way;
• Our storage bins minimize breakage and contamination on your site and during
transportation to make sure that the items remain intact for recycling. The
bins, boxes and recycling stations are maintained by our trained staff and they
make sure that no waste/dirt is left onsite when we picked up the items.
Lamp Recycling Solutions

8. Contact us at: info@Waste-Diversion.ca
Website: www.Waste-Diversion.ca