|
|
 |
| What is understood by fluorescent lamps? |
|
| The best known discharge lamps are the fluorescent tubes. In homes these are used mainly in the kitchen and bathroom, but they are also found in the majority in trades and industry. Hazardous discharge lamps, basically in high pressure mercury and sodium, are used in street lighting. The use of fluorescent and discharge lamps gives greater energy use than conventional lamps. However, toxic substances are used in their manufacture, such as mercury and other heavy metals. Therefore, they must be considered hazardous waste.
|
|
| Why do fluorescent lamps have to be treated? |
|
When we throw fluorescent tubes in the rubbish, we are throwing away the metals they contain. This is a risk to the environment.
-
If they are disposed of in an uncontrolled landfill, the rainwater can take the metals into the underground streams, and from here into the rivers and the sea, with possible effects on living beings;
-
If they are burnt in an unsuitable incinerator, the metals vaporise and are dispersed in the air, and when it rains they are sent into the land and streams. Most of the metals (and specifically mercury) are bioaccumulative and pass from one body to another through the food chain. The waste management facilities in Catalonia - both landfills and incinerators - already meet very strict standards (soil impermeabilisation or gas purification). This problem is avoided as a result. In any case, the separate waste collection of fluorescent lamps completely eliminates any risk in such installations.
|
|
| What are the obligations of the producer or holder of fluorescent lamps? |
|
| The producer or holder of fluorescent lamps is responsible for them being correctly disposed of, that is, they must be delivered in a suitable condition to the company operating the service. Therefore, fluorescent tubes must not be placed with the rest of the waste.
|
|
| What is the collection process for fluorescent lamps? |
|
| The collection process depends on the origin of the lamps. Domestic fluorescent tubes may be placed in the specific containers for fluorescent tubes that are beginning to be distributed in electrical and lighting shops and also at tip points. Lamps in industries or trade and those from street lighting must be stored aside from other waste and with a minimal amount of necessary paper, plastic or cardboard wrapping to prevent them from breaking. Straight fluorescent tubes from lights are collected separately from those in special shapes.
|
|
| How do fluorescent lamps have to be treated? |
|
| In Catalonia, the waste treatment of fluorescent tubes and discharge lamps is a public service of the Generalitat, government of Catalonia. In this sense, the Agència de Residus de Catalunya - which is responsible for the management - has chosen to evaluate this waste. Fluorescent treatment consists of separating the metal caps, brushing out the powder with mercury and recovering the glass from the straight fluorescent tubes. Then the fluorescent powder is distilled along with the fluorescent tubes in special shapes and lamps to recover the mercury.
|
|
| Which is the concessionary of the public service? |
|
| The concessionary company of the public service chosen by public tender is PILAGEST, SL, which currently deals with the collection, transport and treatment of the fluorescent tubes generated in Catalonia. Therefore, any company producing or holding fluorescent lamps may contact PILAGEST, SL for collection. The fluorescent lamp collection telephone is 900-30.05.06.
|
|
| Where are fluorescent lamps treated? |
|
| The fluorescent lamps are treated in a fluorescent lamp evaluation plant that the Agència de Residus de Catalunya operated in El Pont de Vilomara i Rocafort (Bages region), with a treatment capacity for 1,000,000 fluorescent tubes a year. The fluorescent tube treatment plant is common with the battery treatment plant.
|
|
| How is the management of fluorescent lamps formalised? |
|
| Individual holders of end-of-life fluorescent tubes must place them in the specific containers in their municipality or at the tip points. Producers or holders of industrial fluorescent tubes, as waste producers, must place their producer code and complete a follow-up sheet, which will contain the details of the producer, the amount of lamps collected, the collection date, the details of the waste transporters and manager.
|
|
| What are the regulations applicable to the waste management of fluorescent lamps? |
|
| Law 6/1993 of 15th July regulating waste. Decree 93/1999 of 6th April, on waste management procedures.
|
|
| What are the rates of the fluorescent lamp management service? |
|
| Domestic fluorescent tubes are collected and treated free. The industrial fluorescent lamp treatment service is subject to the rates of the public service, which depend on the type of batteries and the amount to be handled. The public service concessionary company, PILAGEST, SL, will report the current rates. PILAGEST also offers the fluorescent lamp collection service, which may affect any transpoter authorised for this work.
|
