Disposal of Spent Fluorescent Light Tubes and Mercury Vapor Lamps Department of Public Works City of Los Angeles Fact Sheet Energy efficient fluorescent lamps have gained widespread usage over the years compared to incandescent ones, fluorescent lamps are three to four times more efficient in converting electricity to visible light. This increasing use of mercury contained fluorescent lamps have led to growing concerns over its proper disposal. This fact sheet provides information on government regulations and guidelines on the proper disposal of spent fluorescent tubes and mercury vapor lamps.
Fluorescent lamps contain small quantities of mercury, cadmium and antimony.
It has been estimated that between 450 and 500 million fluorescent lamps are disposed of in the United States each year, dumping over 30,000 metric tons of mercury contaminated waste into the nation's landfills'. Through improper disposal methods, mercury can travel from the soil to various water sources. Lakes have been found to be polluted with mercury, rendering fishes unsafe to eat. Concentration of mercury in fish at one Minnesota lake have increased 5 percent a year since 1970 according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency study. As mercury moves up the food chain, it becomes more concentrated.