Reclite Recycling Through Innovation

A: CFL stands for compact fluorescent lamp, and it is a small fluorescent lighting lamp that uses 75% less energy than a traditional incandescent lamp and can be screwed into a regular light socket.

A: High intensity discharge (HID) lamps contain varying amounts of mercury. The amount of mercury can vary depending on the type of HID lamps. The three most commonly used types of HID lamps are mercury vapor, metal halide, and high pressure sodium. HID lamps are typically used when high levels of light are required over large areas and when energy efficiency and/or long life are desired. These areas include gymnasiums, large public areas, warehouses, outdoor activity areas, roadways, parking lots, and pathways. HID lamps, especially metal halide, are increasingly used in small retail and residential areas.

A: Switching from traditional light lamp to CFL's is an effective, accessible change every South African can make right now to reduce energy use at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home's electric bill. Changing to CFL's costs little upfront and provides a quick return on investment.

A: CFL's contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing - an average of 5 milligrams for a new CFL and much less for a used CFL - by comparison old thermometers contained 500 milligrams of mercury. Mercury is an essential component of CFL's and is what allows the lamp to be an efficient light source. No mercury is released and is safe when the lamp is intact or in use. Many manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce the amount of mercury in their fluorescent lighting products. If the CFL or fluorescent lamp is not handled correctly and breaks, follow the clean-up procedure and it is extremely unlikely to have an impact on your health, but full precaution should be taken to ensure that you do not have direct exposure to the spilled contents.

A: When fluorescent lamps break, phosphorous powder and the invisible mercury vapour is released, and continues to dissipate at normal temperature. This vapour, when inhaled or released, can be potentially harmful to human health and the environment, and precautions must be taken to ensure that you do not have direct exposure to the released contents.

Vapour being released from a breaking lamp

A: CFL's are made mainly of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the lamp from it's packaging, installing it or replacing it. Always unscrew and screw the lamp by it's base and not the glass and never forcefully twist the CFL into the light socket. Place the used CFL into the new CFL's packaging. If a CFL breaks in your home follow the clean-up recommendations below.

A: Before Clean-up: Vent the Room

1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more. DO NOT vacuum the spill, or never use a broom to clean up the mercury.
2. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

3. Put on rubber or latex gloves. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
5. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

1. Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
3. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the lamp was broken.
4. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

A: It is recommended that the lamps are taken to a collection point or directly to Reclite where it will be collected for recycling.

A: Recycling is when a product is processed back into re-usable fractions or raw materials. Reclite recycles the entire lamp with zero waste to landfill. The mercury is recovered and re-used to make more lighting lamps or other mercury bearing products such as medical equipment, instrumentation etc. A recycling or destruction certificate is issued upon delivery

A: CFL's or other fluorescent lighting lamps thrown into the trash are usually sent to a landfill. These disposal methods will lead to releases of elemental mercury into the environment through breakage and leakage. There is also the potential for exposure to mercury from broken fluorescent lighting lamps thrown in a dumpster, trash compactor, or trash can. Once in the environment, mercury can be converted to an organic form that accumulates in living organisms and contaminates the food chain. To prevent the release of mercury, the fluorescent lighting lamps should be taken to a recycler before they break. Recyclers can recover the mercury and other components for reuse.

A: All mercury bearing lamps should be recycled see Services. Other non-mercury bearing lamps can also be recycled.

A: Used lamps that are accumulated for recycling should be stored in packaging that minimizes lamp breakage. Used lamps may be stored in drums, boxes, or the cartons they originally came in. The packaging must remain closed unless lamps are being added or removed. Any broken lamps must be stored separately in a sealed container.

Used lamps should be stored and handled in a way that prevents breakage. Any releases to the environment from broken lamps must be contained immediately and handled properly.

Employees are educated on the proper handling of used mercury-containing lamps and emergency procedures in case of breaks or spills.