Human settlements

Chemicals management

Safe disposal of mercury containing lamps

Disposing of CFLs

Australian governments are examining the need for a national recycling scheme for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and other fluorescent lamps. The advice below, regarding the safe and responsible disposal of these lamps, has been prepared as an interim measure.

Question 1. How should I dispose of CFLs and other fluorescent tubes at the end of their working life?

Recycle

The safest way to dispose of lamps that contain mercury (e.g. CFLs and fluorescent tubes) is to have them recycled. A reputable recycler can safely recover and recycle the mercury, glass, phosphor, and aluminium from lamps.

Several states have household chemical collection programmes or drop off points that accept lamps for recycling. Other states are considering introducing similar schemes. If lamp recycling services are difficult to access in your area, you may wish to consider carefully storing your spent lamps until facilities become available. Care should be taken during storage of spent lamps as CFLs contain mercury and may present a health hazard when broken.

CFLs and fluorescent tubes can also be posted to recyclers in special purpose containers, though these are currently only available for large quantities. Visit the following websites for further information:

Large quantities of lamps, such as those generated by businesses or institutions should be recycled. Most lamp recyclers will collect large quantities of lamps from capital cities and selected regional areas. Disposal of large amounts of fluorescent lamps in landfill is forbidden in some states.

For more details contact your state environment agency.

Disposal to landfill

If recycling is not an option, check whether your local household chemical waste depot accepts fluorescent lamps. If there is no other option, wrap used lamps in newspaper to prevent them from breaking and place them in your rubbish bin. This is not the preferred method of disposal.

Avoid placing lamps in kerbside recycling bins

You should not place lamps in your kerbside recycling collection because they can break during transport and contaminate recyclable items.

For more details contact your state environment agency.

Question 2. Where can I take lamps for recycling?

New South Wales

The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW operates the CleanOut program to collect household chemicals and waste. Details are available on the CleanOut website  or by calling the Environment Line (Phone: 131 555).

Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) will accept a maximum of two drop offs (6 lamps or less) per household from April 2008 until the end of October 2008. Contact:

CMA Recycling
42-46 Charles Street
St. Marys NSW 2760
Ph: (02) 9833 3855
Fax: (02) 9833 2966
Internet: Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) 

Lismore City Council has commenced a fluorescent lighting collection and recycling program. Lismore City Council accepts spent fluorescent lighting (fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs, mercury vapour lamps and metal halide lamps).

Lismore City Council residents can drop off small quantities free of charge and charges apply for larger volumes. Lismore City Council also accepts spent lighting from other Council areas but fees and charges do apply. Lighting can be dropped at the:

Wyrallah Road Waste Facility
313 Wyrallah Road
East Lismore NSW 2480

Phone: waste hotline 02 6625 0559
Fax: (02) 6621 8607
Internet: Lismore City Council 

Victoria

Sustainability Victoria runs the 'Detox Your Home' program, which has permanent drop off centres  in Reservoir, Bellfield, Brimbank, Monash, Mornington and Geelong - as well as a household collection service .

Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) will accept a maximum of two drop offs (6 lamps or less) per household from April 2008 until the end of October 2008. Contact:

CMA Ecocycle
5-11 Reo Crescent
Campbellfield VIC 3061
Ph: (03) 9308 9415
Fax: (03) 9308 9416
Internet: Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) 

CMA Recycling
81-85 Heatherdale Rd
Ringwood VIC 3134

Phone: (03) 9873 2000
Fax: (03) 9873 2527
Internet: Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) 

South Australia

ZeroWaste SA has a mobile collection service for household chemicals. Details are available on the ZeroWaste SA  website or by phoning (08) 8204 1961.

The SA EPA has a Hazardous Household Waste Depot on the corner of Magazine Road and Henschke Street, Dry Creek. It is open on the first Tuesday of every month from 9am - 12 noon. For further details contact the EPA on (08) 8204 2004, or visit the SA EPA Hazardous Household Waste Depot  website.

Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) will accept a maximum of two drop offs (6 lamps or less) per household from April 2008 until the end of October 2008. Contact:

CMA Recycling
16-20 Johansson Rd
Wingfield SA 5010

Phone: (08) 8262 4558
Fax: (08) 8262 4202
Internet: Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) 

Tasmania

There are plans to implement state-wide collections.

Meanwhile, Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) will accept a maximum of two drop offs (6 lamps or less) per household from April 2008 until the end of October 2008. Contact:

CMA Recycling
256 Georgetown Rd
Rocherlea TAS 7248

Phone: (03) 6326 3177
Fax: (03) 6326 6477
Internet: Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) 

Queensland

There is currently no collection service available in Queensland.

Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) will accept a maximum of two drop offs (6 lamps or less) per household from April 2008 until the end of October 2008. Contact:

CMA Recycling
Cnr Bullockhead St & Forge Close
Sumner Park QLD 4074
Ph: (07) 3279 4114
Fax: (07) 3279 6116
Internet: Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) 

Western Australia

There is currently no collection service available in WA.

Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) will accept a maximum of two drop offs (6 lamps or less) per household from April 2008 until the end of October 2008. Contact:

CMA Recycling
54 Rigali Way
Wangara WA 6065

Phone: (08) 9302 6887
Fax: (08) 9302 6920
Internet: Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) 

Northern Territory

There is currently no collection service available in the NT.

Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) will accept a maximum of two drop offs (6 lamps or less) per household from April 2008 until the end of October 2008. Contact:

CMA Recycling
Lot 2148 & 2149 McKinnon Road
Berrimah NT 0828
Internet: Advanced Recycling Australasia (ARA) 

Australian Capital Territory

There is currently no collection service available in the ACT, however SITA Environmental Solutions will accept lamps.

SITA Environmental Solutions
41 Alderson Place
Hume ACT 2620
Phone: 02 6260 1544
Fax 02 6260 1568

If you represent a lamp recycling company and would like the details of how your services can be accessed to be provided on this site, please contact Angela Gillman on Phone: (02) 6274 2450 or Email: angela.gillman@environment.gov.au


Question 3. What should I do if I break a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)?

While ordinary incandescent lamps can be disposed of with the usual household rubbish, CFLs, fluorescent tubes and some other high intensity lamps may present a health hazard if not handled correctly when broken, as they contain mercury. Although the mercury content of CFLs is small, lighting companies typically recommend that if a CFL breaks, people should:

Contacts

National Packaging Covenant
Level 6, 457 St Kilda Road
Melbourne VIC 3004
Email: npc@packagingcovenant.
org.au
Phone: (03) 9861 2322
Fax: (03) 9861 2330

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