Recycling of energy-saving lamps

Conventional incandescent lamps will soon completely leave our homes - this is no wonder, because they were replaced by modern energy-saving lamps. Their use is much more profitable, since energy-saving lamps can save energy, but at the same time, light is given more and lasts longer than conventional incandescent lamps. However, they still have one minus - they are made of such materials and technologies, that special conditions are necessary for their disposal, so it is better to hand them over to the points of reception of energy-saving lamps.

Energy-saving lamps: the pros and cons

Today many believe that energy-saving lamps are a real breakthrough. In fact, it's only partly true.

1. "Energy-efficient" are considered several types of lamps - each of them individually has its own indicators of economy and light output.
2. The most "energy efficient" to date are LEDs: they are the most profitable and durable, but, however, very expensive.
3. "Energy-saving" lamps are called fluorescent lamps. Thanks to a more modern approach, they can be used in standard socles.
4. Fluorescent lamps consume much less electricity, so they are most often used in the household.
5. Fluorescent lamps are capable of producing "cold" light - white or daylight and "warm" light - yellow. The fact is that they can stream light to produce different color temperatures - ranging from 2,700 Kelvin to 6500 Kelvin.
6. Since 2009, the Russian Federation has actively promoted the distribution of luminescent, that is, energy-saving lamps. Since 2011, the production of lamps with a capacity of 100 watts or more has practically ceased, and already in 2013 - with a capacity of 75 watts or more. Since last year, the production of lamps with a power of 25 watts has sunk into oblivion.
7. Energy-saving lamps give a softer and more stable light.
8. The cost of energy-saving lamps is much higher than incandescent lamps, but the payback is many times greater, since the life of energy-saving lamps is longer than that of incandescent lamps.
9. Energy-saving lamps are undesirable to use in everyday life for people who have a heightened sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation.
10. Energy-saving lamps contain mercury - its vapors will enter the atmosphere if the lamp is damaged.
11. After the expiration date, energy-saving lamps can not be thrown into garbage with various household waste.
12. Energy-saving lamps must be disposed of correctly.

How to dispose of energy-saving lamps

Inside the bulb of the fluorescent lamp contains mercury - this is an extremely dangerous substance. Unfortunately, this fact is often ignored by manufacturers of lighting equipment, as well as by buyers who use energy-saving light bulbs in their homes. Since the negligence of producers is understandable - the desire to earn money, then the recklessness of consumers is sometimes frightening: their carelessness can result in very serious consequences, both for human health and the environment as a whole. Very rarely, people think about the fact that a conventional lamp can bring a lot of trouble, but it's actually so!

Today, all organizations that use energy-saving lamps, must necessarily have an agreement with suppliers of light fixtures, according to which there is an item on the delivery of these lamps after the expiration date back to production. The fact is that the lamps already used must necessarily be transferred for recycling - to enterprises.

Unfortunately, the utilization of energy-saving lamps remains on the conscience of consumers, as rarely any organization or enterprise complies with these rules. In addition, special plants that deal with the processing of toxic waste, namely, there must be sent lamps, there are not all cities.

Where can I put energy-saving lamps?

To the great regret, the centralized points where the used lamps are used are often not even in megacities. But there are a number of special enterprises that deal with the transportation and disposal of waste that contain mercury and various other toxic substances. Of course, the services of all these companies are worth the money, and often not small, which is why industrial organizations resort to their services. But we can all make our contribution to the common cause - to protect the environment, you can take note of several useful tips:

1. Always sort the garbage! Never throw energy saving bulbs into the trash. Always postpone them separately( as well as various electrical devices) - ideally in hermetic bags, and then carry it to the reception point for old batteries.
2. Take responsibility! Take the initiative at the level of the entrance or the whole house: install special tanks, where all neighbors could put used energy-saving lamps. Once a month it will be necessary to relate the accumulated lamps to specialized reception points.
3. If you do not know where in your city the point of reception of batteries, contact social networks, large supermarkets, read local websites. Most often, employees of these points directly communicate with processors - they can tell you what to do with the lamps.
4. According to the law, all used energy-saving lamps, as well as their parts and fragments are required to take in all buildings management offices, as well as repair and maintenance offices.
5. In the service center of the IKEA store there is exactly the point of reception of lamps.
6. All waste energy-saving lamps are sent to special plants - here the lamps are dismantled, the mercury is separated from the glass and the plinth. The phosphor containing mercury is treated with chemicals, and then covered with cement and tightly closed in a sealed container.
7. Mercury in energy-saving lamps is very small, but despite this, if the lamps meet in one place very much, then it threatens to pollute the atmosphere.
8. By the way, earlier Krypton-85 was used to produce energy-saving lamps, but it was even more dangerous than mercury, so it was replaced.
9. According to the latest developments, scientists propose to use in energy-saving lamps not mercury, and its alloys or amalgam - thanks to this, mercury vapor will be restrained. Nevertheless, even such innovations will not eliminate the need for special recycling of all energy-saving lamps.

If an energy-saving lamp broke at home?

Remember that mercury requires a very careful and careful attitude, like a broken energy-saving lamp.

If you accidentally broke a lamp in the room, you need:

1. Open the windows for a quarter of an hour - the room should be very well ventilated.
2. Wear disposable rubber gloves.
3. Do not touch the lamp with bare hands!
4. Remove the shards only in rubber gloves!
5. Forget about the brush, broom and vacuum cleaner.
6. Collect all the fragments with hard cardboard or with hard paper.
7. Fragments are placed in a sealed plastic bag.
8. Thoroughly wipe the surface where the lamp broke with a wet towel made of paper or cloth.
9. Put the towel in the same bag where you collected the fragments - do not try to wash it or use it in the future.
10. Do not throw shards into the trash can - take them to the battery collection point or a special item for energy-saving lamps.

Energy-saving lamps.

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