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Fluorescent lamp base connector (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com Fluorescent Ballast or Lamp Disposal
Laws & methods to dispose of of dead bulbs or transformers

How to dispose of a used or defective ballast or transformer used in fluorescent light fixtures.

This article series explains how to diagnose and repair fluorescent lights in buildings. We include links to codes and regulations for the disposal or re-cycling of old transformers or ballasts used in light fixtures. Some of these contain harmful PCBs.

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Fluorescent Light Ballast & Bulb Disposal Regulations

Single pin FT12 Fluorescent light fixture installed in 1963 (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.comHow Much Mercury is in a Fluorescent Bulb?

Mercury, a hazardous substance, is present in fluorescent light tubes in both the vapor or gas in the tube and in the phosphor coating on the tube's interior surface. Depending on the fluorescent lamp design it can contain a quantity of mercury ranging from extremely small (less than 1 mg) to 100 milligrams.

About half of the fluorescent lamps sold in the U.s. contain about 5-10 mg of mercury, and another quarter of them contain 10-50 mg of mercury.

Not to worry, as long as the fluorescent lamp or tube is intact the mercury is contained safely inside the device and it's not a health hazard to building occupants.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Watch out: do not just toss these materials into the trash and do not deliberately break up old fluorescent bulbs.

You should also take care to avoid breaking fluorescent light tubes or lamps, both because of the hazard of the many fine shards of glass that will be produced and because breaking the tube releases mercury vapor and powder.

Instead, find out the regulations for your state and take the fluorescent bulbs, intact, to a recycling point. That may be easier than you think. In Minnesota I simply returned the bulbs to the hardware store where I purchased replacement bulbs, and where I was asked to pay a small state-regulated recycling fee.

Depending on where you live there may be a community recycling center that also accepts these bulbs.

How to Clean Up a Broken Fluorescent Bulb

Ok so you broke the fluorescent bulb! Now what? Some useful advice on how to clean up a broken fluorescent lamp bulb is provided by

In the U.S., accordance with the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA), the mercury content in fluorescent lamps (bulbs) manufactured after 1990 was significantly-reduced; before 1990 these bulbs are higher in mercury content. Manufacturers such as GE labeled the newer low-mercury bulbs with an "Eco" suffix.

Depending on where you live there may be a small disposal fee that you must pay to assure proper handling of older bulbs or lamps containing mercury or to dispose of ballasts that may contain PCBs or other harmful chemicals.

Fluorescent Bulb Disposal Regulations & Procedures

Color temperature of lights - demo © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com Photo: an Edison base (screw in conventional light bulb) compact fluorescent lamp.

In the U.S. the following states prohibit disposing of any mercury-containing bulbs of any kind, regardless of the bulb age and type:

Special disposal procedures and regulations must be followed in those states, in accordance with the U.S. Federal Regulation 40 CFR Part 273 - Universal Waste Rule. Very helpful details about handling these materials are given by Lynch (un-dated), writing for GE and cited just below.


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