Fluorescent tubes

Brugnano is commissioned by the ECOLIGHT consortium for the recovery and collection of discharge lamps and fluorescent tubes. This type of waste falls under the category called WEEE, an acronym for “Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment”, which includes energy-saving light sources, neon and everything that comes from small and large household appliances, computers, mobile phones, electrical and electronic waste. Once they reach the end of their life cycle, these devices can be recovered and reused, as they are made of recyclable or noble raw materials. However, they may also contain substances that are harmful to humans and the environment. For this reason, they require special management, precisely defined by the legislation in force, for everything concerning collection, transport and treatment.

It should be considered that this type of waste is continuously increasing globally, with an annual growth rate of around 3-5%, a percentage of about three times higher than that of normal waste. A very large proportion of this special waste is made up of lighting equipment, which can be classified into two broad categories:

• Light sources, which include linear and non-linear fluorescent tubes, non-integrated compact fluorescent lamps, integrated compact energy-saving fluorescent lamps, low or high pressure lamps, high intensity discharge lamps;
• Luminaires, including lamps, ceiling lights, LED spotlights, wall lights and halogen spotlights.

The collection phase of fluorescent tubes precedes the fundamental phases of treatment and recycling: WEEE waste can contain materials that are also very polluting, such as mercury, contained in certain types of light bulbs. For this reason, it is essential to differentiate this waste, which can in no way be assimilated to solid urban waste: a proper disposal of these products, in fact, greatly reduces the danger of pollution and safeguards the health of people and the surrounding environment.