Civic Recycling is pleased to announce that it has surpassed 350,000 lamps recycled to date and is well on its way to recycling 400,000 of them. Fluorescent lights provide high-value lighting in many settings but can contain up to 23 milligrams of toxic mercury per lamp. With this latest milestone in Civic Recycling’s commitment to protecting the environment in Canada, a total of 8,050,000 milligrams of mercury have been diverted from landfills or entering Canadian waterways. That’s 8 kilos of poison that can no longer cause harm to others or our natural resources.
Civic Recycling has surpassed 350,000 recycled lamps and well on our way to recycling 400,000!
Civic Recycling serves the greater Alberta region from its headquarters in Calgary. Through our fluorescent lamp recycling program, we aim to fill the gap left by our province not banning these types of lamps from garbage collection facilities as other areas already have. Although Calgary doesn't categorize fluorescent bulbs as hazardous waste, we recognize the threat they pose if not disposed of properly, and we work to minimize that danger.
We effectively crush various types of fluorescent lamps, including T12, T8, and T5 plus 4-foot and 8-foot tubes, U-tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). We rely on the 55 VRS-U Premium Bulb Eater from the AirCycle Corporation to deliver our recycling services to customers throughout central Canada. This machine safely breaks down fluorescent bulbs so mercury and phosphor dust can be collected in a specialty filter that we later send for appropriate hazardous waste disposal.
Are Fluorescent Bulbs Created The Same?
We also recognize that fluorescent bulbs aren’t all created the same. They can contain anywhere from 3 milligrams to 46 milligrams of mercury depending on bulb type, size, and age. Even the smallest amounts of mercury can add up, and it all represents potential environmental harm. We accept all bulb types for your recycling convenience but can't take bulbs that are broken. Civic Recycling accepts small groups of bulbs, under 100 pieces, at our Calgary location during regular business hours and larger groups after scheduling a special drop-off time at our location or pick-up time at your own.
How Can I Dispose Of Fluorescent Bulbs Properly?
Partner with Civic Recycling to dispose of your own fluorescent bulbs, and together we can improve Alberta’s environment for the future. Statistics Canada reports that about 68 percent of all households use CFL bulbs, while 39 percent continue to use traditional fluorescent lights. At the same time, survey responses show that only a third of households disposed of those bulbs in an environmentally friendly manner. We are committed to working with Albertans to increase that percentage and prevent as much mercury as possible from reaching our landfills and waterways. Our disposal methods are safe, cost-effective and easy to access.
Join us in celebrating our milestone of surpassing 350,000 properly dismantled fluorescent lamps and millions of milligrams of appropriately diverted mercury and help us reach our next big target: 400,000. We’ve been a trusted service partner and industrial equipment supplier in Calgary since 1995 and look forward to our continued client relationships and environmental stewardship as we march together into a safer, less toxic future.