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Safe disposal of mercury-containing lamps

Fluoro-cycle: A government and industry partnership to increase the recycling of mercury containing lamps

The Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) - which is made up of state, territory, and Australian Government environment ministers - has been investigating the issues associated with the end-of-life management (disposal methods) for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and other mercury-containing lamps.

In May 2009, the EPHC announced its support for Fluoro-cycle, a voluntary partnership between government and industry to increase recycling of mercury containing lamps. The initial focus of the scheme is on those sectors that account for the largest consumption of mercury containing lamps, namely the commercial and public lighting sectors. It is expected that the scope of the program will be broadened to include lamps from the domestic or household sector. This will address increasing volumes of waste lamps as the CFLs currently being installed to replace incandescent globes reach end-of-life.

• EPHC Communique  - Environment Protection and Heritage Council, May 2009

The scheme will be jointly delivered by Lighting Council Australia and the Australian Government, on behalf of the EPHC, in collaboration with key industry bodies including the Australian Council of Recyclers, the Facility Management Association of Australia, the Australian Local Government Association and the Property Council of Australia. Details of the scheme are currently being developed with a view to launching the scheme in early 2010.

Disposing of mercury-containing lamps

A variety of lamp types used in Australia require mercury to operate. Generally, the higher the power usage, the more mercury that is required to operate the lamp. Mercury containing lamps include:

• high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, such as mercury vapour lamps used for street lighting, which contain between 50 and 1000 milligrams (mg) of mercury
• linear fluorescent tubes, as used in most commercial and public buildings, which are required by an Australian standard to contain less than 15 mg
• compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), used mostly in homes, which are required under a new Australian Standard to have a maximum of 5 mg, and
• some neon tubes, as used in signs.

Waste disposal and handling is primarily a state and local government responsibility in Australia. Landfill disposal of large amounts of mercury containing lamps such as those generated by businesses, institutions, or councils is forbidden in some states.

Please check with your local authority to determine what conditions apply where you live.

Specialty recyclers

An alternative to landfill disposal is taking mercury containing lamps to specialty recyclers who are able to safely recover not only the mercury, but also the glass, phosphor and aluminium contained in the lamps. Recovered mercury is commonly sold to the dental industry, where it is used in amalgam for fillings.

Most lamp recyclers collect large quantities of lamps from capital cities and selected regional areas for transport to a mercury-recycling facility. CFLs can also be posted to recyclers in special purpose containers, although these are currently only available for large quantities.

A number of companies provide mercury recycling services, including:

• CMA Ecocycle 
• Chemsal 

Visit the above websites for further information and to find out if there is a service available near you.

Chemical collection programs and Drop-off points

Several states have household chemical collection programs and/or drop-off points that accept domestic quantities of CFLs and fluorescent tubes for recycling. Other states are considering introducing similar schemes.

Please check with your state environment agency and/or local authority to determine if there is a collection point near you and the types and quantities of lamps accepted for recycling. The following state department websites may be of assistance:

Australian Capital Territory
Department of Territory and Municipal Services
www.tams.act.gov.au 
Phone 13 2281

New South Wales
Department of Environment and Climate Change
www.environment.nsw.gov.au 
Phone 131 555

Northern Territory
Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport
www.nt.gov.au/nreta 
Phone (08) 8999 5511

Queensland
Environment Protection Agency
www.epa.qld.gov.au 
Phone 1300 130 372

South Australia
Zero Waste SA
www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au 
Phone (08) 8204 2051

Tasmania
Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts
www.environment.tas.gov.au 
Phone (03) 6233 6518

Victoria
Sustainability Victoria
www.sustainability.vic.gov.au 
Phone 1300 363 744

Western Australia
Zero Waste WA
www.zerowastewa.com.au 
Phone (08) 6467 5011

Alternatively, you may contact Planet Ark's Recycling Near You Hotline on 1300 733 712 or visit their website at www.recyclingnearyou.com.au  to find out where you can recycle CFLs and other mercury-containing lamps in your local area.

More information on mercury lamps, including safe clean-up guidelines for broken lamps is available at: www.environment.gov.au/lighting