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Disposing of low energy lightbulbs.

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A low energy bulb has finally expired after five and a half years of service. Rather than just putting it in the household rubbish is there anywhere that I can take it for disposal or recycling?

Comments

  • Lord_Gardener
    Lord_Gardener Posts: 2,971 Forumite
    Check out your local council recycling centre where they usually take fluorescent tubes - they are mini ones!
    I'm mad!!!! :rotfl::jand celebrating everyday every year!!!
  • plumb1_2
    plumb1_2 Posts: 4,395 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Throw it in the bin, you will do more damage to the enviroment driving to the tip.
  • marksward
    marksward Posts: 258 Forumite
    Don't IKEA still have the recycling boxes there for old energy saving bulbs, and save the fuel by buying the replacement there as well!
  • scheming_gypsy
    scheming_gypsy Posts: 18,410 Forumite
    it's a light bulb for chuffs sake. Stick it in the bin...
    The amount of resources it'd use sticking it in the bin has been dwarfed by the amount of energy used turning the computer on, logging onto here and asking us what to do with a light bulb.
  • FilthyLuka
    FilthyLuka Posts: 279 Forumite
    stick it in a box in the shed out of the way, then take it to a recycle point when you are taking stuff anyway - problem solved (unless you have to drive to a diy place and buy a shed first!):money:
  • Wig
    Wig Posts: 14,139 Forumite
    It's not resources/energy that is the issue here, it is that they contain mercury and should be disposed of properly, it is illegal for a council to throw these into landfill but no-one seems to give a !!!!
  • its called the WEE directive lol, waste electricial equipment regulations,

    for example me being a registered electrician it cost me approx 60p for a flourescent tube 5ft type but costs nearlt £2 to dispose of the old one, hmm anouther cost passed striaght to the customer,

    either throw it away in the bin like most people do ( I KNOW ITS WRONG) or take it to a specialised waste disposal transfer site where you will get laughed at, and it will cost you a minuium charge of £25 plus vat. imho.

    yet more red tape me thinks.


    thanks,
    andy
  • MOCHA
    MOCHA Posts: 270 Forumite
    Thanks for all the replies. I ended up dropping it so yes it's in the bin in several pieces!
    I'm a convert to these bulbs which are now much more reasonably priced and smaller than the early ones.
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