Fluorescent, or fluorescent lights, have long become an integral part of the usual life of a person who does not want to overpay for electricity. You can buy a similar attribute in any store for a relatively small cost. Everything seems to be simple. But what to do when the bulb burns out? Such lamps should never be thrown into the trash with ordinary household waste. Such a burnt out light source requires proper disposal.
Reasons for special disposal of lamps
The main disadvantage of such lamps is that they contain a small amount of mercury. Without it, the principle of the device’s operation is impossible, therefore, it is still not possible to completely abandon mercury.
The main danger of fluorescent lamps is mainly that mercury can be converted to the harmful substance methylmercury and accumulate in the environment. Imagine, if everyone throws lamps at a regular landfill, what kind of pollution of this area can happen over the years.
If it enters the human body, all organic mercury compounds can cause serious poisoning, which will lead to impaired functioning of the central nervous system. As a result, one can observe the negative effect of mercury on all organs of the human body.
That is why it should be remembered that at the end of the shelf life of this device, special disposal of lamps should be carried out.
Technology and disposal methods
Disposal of fluorescent lamps begins with the transportation of the object itself to the place of demercurization. Simply put, you just need to take a similar light source to a special collection point for similar waste, which can be found in every city. This can be management companies or housing offices that undertake to ensure the reception, proper storage and transportation of hazardous waste to the processing plant.
After sending such objects to the enterprise for demercurization, lamps are recycled in several cycles. Initially, all the glass parts of the flask itself with the phosphor are sent to the grinder, which crushes them to a certain critical fraction. After this, a compressed air stream blows off the phosphor, which, after such a procedure, enters a special container. It is here that small parts are heated to a boil. It turns out gaseous mercury, which has to go through the cooling stage on special condensers. As a result, at the output you can get not only pure metal itself, but also all other compounds that got into it during processing: glass and phosphor components. After such actions, the resulting mercury can be used again.
Disposal of lamps by enterprises
The fluorescent lamps used in enterprises contain much more mercury than household fluids. Therefore, the disposal of such lighting devices requires proper attention. All enterprises should dispose of a failed bulb according to a special scheme, which should be documented. Such information passes through the accounts department of each organization, therefore, if necessary, it can be easily checked and even a fine will be issued to malicious violators. Storage of lamps before transportation to the processing site should be carried out in special containers of a closed type. Such cargo should be sent for recycling at least twice a year.
Registration for lamp processing by individuals
To date, the question of how the correct disposal of lamps by ordinary consumers occurs, while only waiting for the correct study. This problem is best solved in the capital, where the process of processing energy-saving light sources is provided by regional REU or DES. In the marked places should be containers where you can put old lamps. At the same time, both DEZ and REU undertake not only to collect, but also to ensure the processing of all lamps.
It is worth noting that such a “garbage” is considered toxic waste, so you should use the services of a special organization for which proper disposal of lamps is important. The company "Ecology of waste management" can help both large enterprises and individuals in Moscow and the region to carry out all work quickly, reliably and efficiently.
What if the lamp crashes?
If for some reason the fluorescent lamp was broken, do not immediately rush to collect the fragments with your bare hands. First you need to ventilate the room where the accident occurred, and then in disposable gloves using thick cardboard to collect all the fragments in a separate garbage bag. Even in this form, the correct disposal of the lamps should still be carried out. Photos of options for such lighting devices will help to better understand what is relevant to this designation.
In conclusion, it is worth adding that the disposal of toxic waste is considered a very important process in the modern world, so it is worth paying due attention to this process.