Fluorescent Lights

Fluorescent lights – How (and why) to recycle them!
Since August 1, 1994, it has been illegal to place fluorescent and/or high-intensity discharge lamps in the trash in Minnesota. The reason for this ban is because these lamps contain mercury. While fluorescent lamps are completely safe to use, they should be managed properly when you are finished using them.
The fluorescent lamp disposal ban includes the following items:

• all shapes of fluorescent lamps
• compact fluorescent lamps
• mercury vapor lamps
• high pressure sodium lamps
• metal halide lamps

Scott County collects used residential fluorescent lamps from homeowners at our Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility throughout the year. This service is currently available at no charge to residents of Scott County.

In addition, the County also sponsors several fluorescent lamp collection events each year for small businesses in our area. These business bulb collection events are held on the first Tuesday of each month, at the Scott County HHW Facility, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Click here for more information on the business bulb collection program.

If your business needs to recycle your used fluorescent lamps, you can save them for the next business bulb collection or contact a lamp recycler and arrange for them to stop by your business and pick them up for you. For a list of lamp recyclers, contact the Scott County Environmental Health Office at 952-496-8177.

Here are a few precautions to take when handling fluorescent lights after they have burned out:

• Do not break or crush lights, as this can cause mercury to be released.
• To avoid breaking the lights, package them carefully when storing or transporting them.
• If lights are accidentally broken, leave the area and air it out for a few minutes before returning. Store the broken lamps in a sealed container until you can recycle them.

Mercury is part of what makes the fluorescent lights work, so it can not be eliminated from the lights completely. By recycling our used fluorescent lights, we help to keep mercury out of the environment. The mercury, glass and metal can then be reused in other products!

But why should we use fluorescent lights?

Using energy-efficient lighting makes good sense because they will save you money on your electric bills – they will also help to protect the environment by using less energy. Here are some reasons why using fluorescent and/or high-intensity discharge (HID) lights in your home or business is a smart choice.

• You save money. Fluorescent lights last longer and cost less to run than incandescent lights because they use 50% less electricity. While they may be more expensive up front, the purchase price is only a small part of the total cost of the lamp. Over their lifetime, fluorescent lights will save you money because your energy bill will be reduced. For instance, replacing one 1-watt bulb with a compact fluorescent of equivalent light intensity can save you as much as $50 over the lifetime of the compact fluorescent bulb.
• Less mercury is released into the environment. In Minnesota, 69% of our electricity is generated by coal-burning power plants. Since coal contains trace amounts of mercury, coal-burning power plants release mercury into the atmosphere. Approximately half the mercury discharges in Minnesota are from coal-burning power plants. Thus, by using less electricity we will release less mercury into the atmosphere.
• Other pollution emissions are also reduced. Because fluorescent and HID lights use 50% less electricity than incandescent lights, their use reduces emissions of chemicals that cause acid rain and carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. For example, replacing a 150-watt bulb with a 28-watt compact fluorescent lamp results in 1,020 ponds less carbon dioxide released from power plants over the lifetime of the fluorescent lamp. Radioactive wastes and other toxic and solid waste byproducts from power plants are also reduced.
• Fewer new power plants will be needed. Less energy demand means electric utilities need less new generating capacity. Utilities can avoid building new plants, which will result in more savings for customers and less future pollution of our environment.

For additional information on upcoming collection events, call the Scott County Environmental Health 24-hour information line at 952-496-8787.

Remember: using fluorescent lamps in your home or office is a BRIGHT move!