Lamp disposal: what is its importance and how to do it correctly?

You may have had to dispose of a lamp before, but did you do it correctly? An old lamp is a waste product that can contribute to environmental pollution and is extremely dangerous, especially if it is already broken when thrown away. Therefore, before disposing of it, it is important to take some basic precautions.

In recent years, the national market has offered an immense diversity of affordable lamp models and shapes, but care must continue.

Throughout this post, we will explain more about the importance of adopting basic precautions when disposing of a lamp and how you can carry out this procedure without making mistakes. Check out the full text and get your questions answered!

What is the importance of safe lamp disposal?

All lamps are produced from a composition of heavy metals such as mercury, as well as glass and plastic. These are long-lasting materials that can contaminate rivers and springs, compromising marine and terrestrial life. Therefore, it is not ideal to throw them in landfills.

Mercury is a toxic substance that causes health problems in both humans and animals. In addition, throwing lamps away without any protection criteria risks the physical integrity of people who work in waste collection.

Therefore, when a lamp reaches the end of its useful life, it needs to be taken to a specialized location that can collect the mercury and reintroduce it into the market in the form of raw material.

Thus, you contribute to avoiding further environmental and human health problems due to pollution.

What are the risks involved in incorrect disposal?

The incorrect disposal of a fluorescent lamp, for example, contributes to soil and groundwater contamination with mercury. When absorbed by animals, the substance tends to contaminate the entire food chain of which they are part, including humans.

When mercury is absorbed by the human body, it can cause serious diseases in the liver, kidneys, nervous and reproductive systems.

When dispersed in nature, mercury evaporates, mixes with clouds and precipitates with rainfall.

Incandescent and LED lamps are not made up of heavy metals, but they still pose risks to the environment because the materials in their composition can take hundreds of years to decompose completely.

For these reasons, it is always necessary to plan lamp disposal correctly. Thus, the waste can be recycled whenever possible.

How should lamp disposal be done?

Okay, no lamp should end up in regular trash. The ideal is to separate them from all other materials that are also destined for disposal. Now, it remains to know the differences about what to do with each lamp model. Check out the information below!

Fluorescent Lamp

Since 2010, there has been the National Solid Waste Policy, which determines a series of rules on how all waste collected should be treated. The importance of collecting fluorescent lamps is one of the topics covered by the regulation.

The ideal solution is to take the intact and well-wrapped fluorescent lamp in newspaper sheets to a disposal point. However, if the lamp is broken, even more care is needed.

It is essential that you open the windows of the room to let air in. This facilitates the dispersion of the toxic materials present in the lamp. Then, don’t forget to collect the larger shards with a cloth or, preferably, a newspaper. Gather everything and take it to the disposal point

LED Lamp

In terms of durability, quality, and energy efficiency, LED lamps are the best choice. At SX Lighting, we use LEDs for all lighting projects. The cost-benefit ratio is enormous!

Their minimum lifespan is 25,000 hours. Due to their durability, they consume less energy and result in savings on electricity bills. However, even though the lifespan of LED lamps is much longer than other types, it is worth noting that they do eventually reach the end of their life.

The good news is that this lamp is made with a structure that is almost entirely recyclable, making it easier to dispose of and recycle compared to other types.

SX Lighting recommends finding a designated collection point. Go to a specific location of your city council or companies that specialize in this type of treatment. The most important thing is not to throw the lamp in regular trash!

Incandescent Lamp

The incandescent lamp was widely used in Brazil for a long time. Found in companies and homes, they were gradually replaced by more innovative and energy-efficient models, starting in 2016, when their sale became prohibited in the country.

The ban occurred due to their low energy efficiency, which contributed to the overload of the country’s electrical system and increased the cost of electricity for consumers.

Although they do not contain heavy metals, incandescent lamps have a much shorter lifespan than LED lamps and fluorescent lamps. The greatest danger of improper disposal is the breakage of the glass and the risk of injury to people who handle the waste.

In all cases, if the reason for disposal is a broken lamp, remember to clean the area where the glass shards were scattered. Do this very carefully, preferably with a damp paper towel.

Avoid using a vacuum cleaner! This can spread the mercury residue even further, not to mention that children or animals may come into contact with the glass shards.

Research organizations in your city that accept lamp disposal to avoid pollution and accidents. Many manufacturers also collect these waste materials, which can already be considered an excellent purchasing criterion when you need to buy new lamps.

So, did you like the tips? Contact us and get to know the best LED lamps.