How to dispose of lamps with mercury?

I’m very curious as to the proper way to dispose of lamps with mercury in them-at a reasonable cost! I just replaced a lamp in a projection tv. Its labeled with the standard “This lamp causes cancer in California and it contain mercury. Waste Management that I use for residential disposal has a label in the can to not dispose of items with mercury. So I called them to find out the proper way to get rid of them……Its simple, go on lamptracker and order a lined box and they’ll take care of it FOR $79.00

I have the same concerns as any sportsman when it comes to the environment. But looking at $80.00 to dispose of a $60.00 lamp sheds a lot of light on why people just toss them into the trash can. Anyone have a cost effective solution?????

No help to you, but Hennepin county takes them for free from residents.

So does Washington County…even though they charge to drop off leaves and grass clippings….and charge for mulch.

Most counties have a drop off site somewhere. Whether they charge or not depends on the county. This is the link for Dodge County, WI. http://www.co.dodge.wi.us/landresources/cleansweep/index.html
Check with their website for drop off locations and possible fees.

Check at your local department stores (target, shopko, FF, home depo) some of these stores have drop off boxes. Also check your local hardware store. The boxes will be marked for the energy efficient bulbs (the curly ones) but I would think any bulb with mercury in it would be accepted.

lhprop1 – thanks for the link. Man, this just gets better as the day goes by. After all the calls, and government hoops, I’m back to where I started. “Call your local recycling facility” (Waste Manmagement) Our Ace Hardware won’t take it, Home Depot only takes the CF’s, and that list goes goes on and on. Hard to believe I’m the only one around here (local here-not cyber world) that is going through this. No wonder why so many end up in land fills

You can take them to Menards, Home Depot or Lowes I know for sure. They have t take them according to Wisconsin’s State laws.

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You can take them to Menards, Home Depot or Lowes I know for sure. They have t take them according to Wisconsin’s State laws.

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When I called the nearest ones, the all said they ONLY take the Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL’s). No other types of lamps are accepted

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No wonder why so many end up in land fills

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I am afraid of all the mercury that is going to be there when we have to use CFLs bulbs and incandescent are illegal. My guess is a majority of people are just going to save themselves the hassle and toss them in the trash.

Sell a old fishing reel on Craigslist for $5.00. Include the bulb as packing material.

Be sure not to include a return address.

a majority of people are just going to save themselves the hassle and toss them in the trash.

The person I spoke to at nearly all the big box stores mentioned that…..

Just break them in a plastic bag. You don’t have to worry, because the bag takes 100 years to rot. By then no one cares. At least that’s what I’m forced to do.

What type of lamp is it? I am assuming it is a flourscent tube.

Thank God we don’t live in California!!

That is an oddball lamp but if you can buy it from those places they are supposed to take then back according to our stae laws. You coulr try just dropping it in their barrel. I know that Home depot keeps theirs in the cart corral. I would try calling the county waste disposal people up and see what they suggest, that is what I did here and that is how I found out about the laws. You could also try calling an electrical contractor and see if they could suggest anything since they have to dispose of them roperly also. It should not be this difficult for people trying to recycle and do the right thing, I know too many who would just toss them in the garbage. Good Luck Randy, I hope you find a solution.

I believe that in wisconsin the manufacturer/seller has to recycle the bulbs they sell free of charge. Just find a store that sells that replacement lamp and bring it there. If that doesn’t work, put it in a box and bring it to the local hardware store. Tell them you have a mercury containing lightbulb for recycling, hand them the box, and quickly walk out of the store before they open the box. It helps to find the youngest person there.

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put it in a box and bring it to the local hardware store. Tell them you have a mercury containing lightbulb for recycling, hand them the box, and quickly walk out of the store before they open the box. It helps to find the youngest person there.

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Doesn’t mercury come out of the ground in the first place? And lead too?

Crude oil does too. Can I come over and dump my oil in your yard?

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Doesn’t mercury come out of the ground in the first place? And lead too?

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NATURAL deposits of Mercury are not in concentrated areas that seep into the water table. The contaminates we face are mostly man made issues by introducing waste into an area that did not previously hold that material-or combination of materials. If you ever wonder why the mercury advisories continue to increase for eating fish from many mid-west lakes, this is why.

You know if I’d have everyone dump wast oil in my backyard, I could start an oil well$$$$$$$$$

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Doesn’t mercury come out of the ground in the first place? And lead too?

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NATURAL deposits of Mercury are not in concentrated areas that seep into the water table. The contaminates we face are mostly man made issues by introducing waste into an area that did not previously hold that material-or combination of materials. If you ever wonder why the mercury advisories continue to increase for eating fish from many mid-west lakes, this is why.

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Plus, I imagine the mercury is purified and refined. From the little reading I did, it sounds like mercury is mined from rock where very small amounts get trapped.

I’ll never forget the day a classmate of mine in 3rd or 4th grade brought in mercury. His dad was a dentist. It was a blast to mess around with, still maybe that explains a lot of things.

Played with mercury in school. In the 70s, in science class. Never had a problem, well maybe never.