Lamp Disposal & Recycling

  Lamp Disposal Options 

   Up to now there have been three options used within the UK. These are as follows:-

1. Crushing waste and disposing in UK landfill used to account for over 90% of UK lamp waste and hitherto the majority of service providers have been using this route. Some companies provide a crusher and will even come and crush lamps on your site for you. However on 16^th July 2004 certain changes have been implemented as a result of The Landfill Directive particularly with regard to the (WAC) Waste Acceptance Criteria and the (EWC) European Waste Catalogue coding. The Environment Agency has determined that fluorescent tubes are now classified as hazardous waste and should only be taken for landfill at appropriately classified and licensed landfill sites. We believe that there are now less than 6 landfill sites in Britain able to accept this type of waste and waste producers have a Duty of Care to ensure that lamp residues are only taken to such sites unless all mercury contaminants can be first removed.
2. Companies who transport the waste to Europe they recover the non hazardous parts such as glass and metal but may landfill the hazardous part (i.e. the mercury).
3. Companies, who recover the waste, recycle all components and after removing the phosphor powder it is then distilled in-house for 16 hours to recover the mercury. All components are reused in industry and the service is carried out totally by the collector of the waste.

  Current legislation has led to only category 3 being the most practical and cost effective option which meets both the requirements of the Landfill Directive and the WEEE Directive.

The difference in the way lamp waste is serviced in the UK is quite significant both in terms of user/operator, and also the manner in which the waste is handled and prepared for collection is different and as such, is charged accordingly.

 This is how we believe the different schemes work plus a third scheme which we offer. We have listed them in order such that it explains the different choices more simply.

Bulk lamp Collection.

• This is again unique and can be supplied where storage containers are not required and a specific amount of lamps in excess of 1000 in quantity need removing.
• For example if you have 1000 mixed lamps of all different types we will travel to any UK mainland address within 4 days notification, in our own vehicles, uplift this waste with all documentation, and once again fully recycle the contents.
• We charge a price per lamp depending on the volumes and types of lamps and again prices include all haulage and delivery charges.
• The fee is invoiced at time of lamp collection.
• This service tends to be the best option for major re-lamping initiatives

 Summary of alternatives 

From our experience customers prefer a more flexible approach with an option to mix lamps, not to have to sort the waste types, nor do they want to count them individually. Certainly they do not want to pay haulage charges extra every time they receive a delivery or a collection.

NB. When a client rents the container, it is delivered to site without a separate delivery fee and we then charge a single "full load fee" a month later with rental being a separate line item.

When we receive the filled containers at our factories we sort the waste into each type, and then count the waste for our returns. However, since we have a full load arrangement for the client there are no debates on numbers received of lamps received.

Delivery charges are inclusive on the "Full Load System" whereby you acquire your containers through either a rental or purchase scheme, and then pay only one single fee each time the container is sited. This fee includes the following:-

• Outward delivery
• Waste Transfer Notes
• Duty of Care tracking
• Collection of waste
• Haulage
• Complete lamp sorting of different types at our plant
• Full processing and recycling of lamps
• Distillation of phosphor powder in house to recover mercury
• Recycling Certificates relevant to each batch type

Under this system the fee entitles your client to fill the containers with as many lamps as possible, to mix the lamps between fluorescent and non linear and to take as long as you wish to fill them up.

Alternatively we can pick up loose lamps (where the lamps are removed from their sleeve packaging and placed inside of their boxes) on a pallet which needs to be cling wrapped so that we can lift it on to our wagons.

Volumes - per container averages

The approximate contents are not guaranteed as they depend upon the sizes of the lamps and the packaging being removed but some guidelines are as follows

Black Corrugated Pipe

Come in 4ft, 6ft and 8ft lengths and all are 300mm diameter. They can be stored inside or outside and the 8ft long pipe will hold various sizes of lamps

2fts = 420

4fts = 210

6fts (slimline) = 100

6ft + 2ft = 200

8ft (thicker 1.5 inch thick T12's) = 54

Assorted PL lamps, etc = several hundred

The best option for small numbers of linear pipes.

One pallet non-linear crate

 1 pallet size, with lid.  Ideal for storing non fluorescent lamps such as SOX, sons, metal halide, compacts or 9", 2ft and 3ft fluorescents, etc. 

Stores approximately 1200 compacts and standard sized non-linear lamps but in the case of say a 26w PL compact fluorescent they will hold several thousand.

1.5 Pallet Collapsible Container

Sizes 1.5 pallet.  Ideal for mixed lamp waste. Will accept all non linear and fluorescents up to 6ft long. The lid opens from above and the front folds down making it easy to access.  Stores on average: -

2fts (T8’s) = 3600

2fts (T5’s) = 5760

3fts = 2400

2fts + 4fts = 2400 mixed

6fts = 1200

Non-linear approx 2000 (depending on sizes) but in the case of the popular 26W Compact PL lamps they will hold up to 8 or 9,000

Can be supplied in lockable and non-lockable format 

Green Metal “Jumbo” Container

Stands on a 2-pallet footprint.  Size is 1.2m by1.2m by 2.4.m. Lockable indoor/outdoorcontainer, which stores on average: -                      

2fts (T8’s) = 7950

2fts (T5’s) = 12,720

4fts = 3900

6fts = 1800 (+ 2 feet of space for other lamps such as sodium’s or non linear lamps)

6ft + 2ft = 3900

5fts + 3fts = 3900

3fts + 2fts = 5800

3000-approx averages of mixed 2fts/3fts/4fts/5fts/6fts and 8fts.

1000 approx 8fts T12's (1.5 inch thick largest fluorescents)