Recycle Fluorescent Tubes: Proper Steps & Tips

You’ll find tube lights in many applications, such as office buildings, hallways, garages, and anywhere that has a low, flat ceiling. Fluorescent tubes are common in warehouse fixtures, you will see them installed in many linear high bays throughout the facility. Although fluorescent tubes contain small amounts of mercury, you still want to avoid breaking them.

Whether you are replacing burnt-out fluorescent tubes or switching over to a LED, there is a proper way to do it. By following these steps, you will allow yourself to reduce any risk.

Let’s answer some common questions and issues that people seem to face when replacing fluorescent tubes.

Why Does Recycling Fluorescent Tubes Matter?

By recycling, you opt-in for environmentally friendly switching out old tubes. If you choose not to recycle, the tubes will simply be sent to a landfill. By doing this, you are allowing toxic mercury to enter the environment. Mercury can then contaminate groundwater, which is not good. In fact, it is illegal to do this in most areas.

Not only do you prevent mercury from entering the environment, but you also reduce waste. How exactly? Part of the tube can be recycled into new tubes. This allows for less waste and this goes back to the saying “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” So fluorescent tube recycling prevents waste from entering a landfill.

How Should I Handle My Fluorescent Tubes?

Here is what you can do to prepare for the removal of fluorescent fixtures:

• Remove all other persons (and pets) from the immediate area – don’t allow anyone in until complete
• Have proper ventilation. This is only needed in case you break a tube. But it’s always better to have air flow throughout instead of after a mess occurs
• Have clean-up supplies in place – face mask, wet paper towel, and a bag to put broken glass in
• Ensure a safe and steady area – you don’t want anything to mess you up!

And one thing that you should always remember for dealing with a broken tube is this: NEVER VACUUM. By vacuuming, you make mercury dust airborne.

Where Can You Recycle Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Tubes?

You are going to need to find a drop-off location where you can take your fluorescent tubes.

The easiest way to find a location near you is to check out the Earth911 website. It allows you to search for what you need to recycle and determine your location. So, you go to that tool and type in ‘fluorescent’ or ‘CFL’ along with your location. It will display the closest place to recycle fluorescent tubes (along with anything else you may want to recycle). You can also enter “fluorescent tube recycling near me” into a search engine to get more information.

What Will Replace Your Existing Tubes?

If you are disposing of and recycling your fluorescent tubes, you need to consider what you will be replacing the removed tubes with. If the answer is more fluorescent tubes, the question to ask yourself is why?

If fluorescents are dangerous, why do you want to reinstall more into your building? By switching to safe lighting like LED you solve many issues of fluorescent lights such as getting rid of mercury, reducing energy costs, and getting higher-quality light.

So, before you install more fluorescent tubes, you may want to consider an LED alternative.

• Replacing the entire fixture with panels and troffers
• Retrofit the fixture with LED tubes. You can choose clear or frosted Lens