Fluorescent Lighting: Is it Special Waste?

There is often confusion about how to deal correctly with waste fluorescent tubes because they are a slight anomaly in the UK waste classification system. Tubes are not counted as special waste when not separately collected, but they do have hazardous properties meaning they should not be mixed with controlled waste in large quantities. This applies to the types that contain mercury and sodium.

However, while this waste type is not considered to be special waste, large volumes of tubes must be disposed of separately, either by recycling them to extract the mercury or by being consigned to a landfill site specially registered to take this type of waste. (If the mercury content is in excess of 3%, these will require treatment and disposal as special waste, but it is not normal to have tubes with more than 0.01% or 20mg of mercury.) The Environment Agency has issued two special waste explanatory notes for greater information, 'Fluorescent Tubes & Lamps (containing Mercury)', SWEN047 and 'Fluorescent Tubes & Lamps (containing Sodium)', SWEN047A, which are available from their website www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
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