1. Home
    2. /
  2. Business Recycling Solutions
    3. /
  3. Fluorescent Tubes

Recycling Services

The environment is changing fast

Join our newsletter to see how you can help turn waste into a resource. Keep up to speed with the changes in recycling and your legal requirements.

Florescent Light Recycling

Both efficient and easy to install, fluorescent light tubes are a common choice for lighting up classrooms, offices and retail stores. Look up and you’ll find them in all sorts of places.

Mercury is a big problem

The problem is you’ll find them in landfill too. Not only is this a massive waste of resource (these tubes are made up of some really useful, recyclable components), but it’s also seriously dangerous for the environment. This is because fluorescent lights contain mercury – and the amount of mercury in just one single tube can pollute 30,000 litres of water.

The Hazardous Waste Disposal Regulations now require fluorescent light disposal to be carried out by licensed companies only.

Printwaste are licensed to handle Fluorescent Lights.

Did you know…

One fluorescent light tube contains enough mercury to contaminate 30,000 litres of water.

Our Service. Your Solution.

To ensure your business remains compliant we can collect your fluorescent light tubes from you and send them on for recycling.

As part of this:

  • We’ll provide you with safe, weatherproof containers to store your redundant light tubes. This will prevent exposure to the elements and minimize the risk of mercury vapour entering the atmosphere.
  • We’ll arrange collections with you based on your needs. These can either be regular or ad hoc.
  • When we collect your fluorescent tubes we’ll give you an Environment Agency Hazardous Waste Collection Note for your records.

Loop Closed. Resource Recycled.

Collection
On a pre-scheduled date, we’ll collect your fluorescent tubes and transport them back to our recycling depot for sorting.
Processing and Separating
Once collected, we’ll send the tubes on to a specialist processing centre, where they’ll be crushed and the individual components (metal, glass, phosphor and mercury) separated.
Recovery
After this, each of the materials will go on their own separate journey:
Metal
A powerful magnet will separate the metal components, which will then be analysed for mercury content. If safe, the metal will be sent on to manufacturers for reuse.
Glass
The glass will be put onto a vibrating grid to remove any metal or plastic components, and will then be re-manufactured into new products.
Phosphor and Mercury
The mercury-filled phosphor powder is hazardous, so, in order to reuse both materials, they need to be separated from each other. To do so, the powder will be put into a distiller and heated. This will turn the mercury into a vapour, which can then be condensed to produce pure metal. The now clean phosphor powder can also be reused to make new fluorescent tubes.

How we add value to your business…

boosting recycling

KEEPING YOU
COMPLIANT

We will ensure you stay compliant.

recycling resources

REUSING
RESOURCES

We will help you divert hazardous waste from landfill.

enhanced business people

ENHANCING
BUSINESS VALUES

We will help you help the environment.

Printwaste’s Quick and Easy Recycling Service

Join the 1000’s of businesses who rely on Printwaste to look after their business recycling and confidential shredding needs.

GET IN TOUCH