Whether they are old incandescent bulbs or the new energy-saving ones, these materials pose Hamlet-like doubts about where to throw them once their function is over. If glass and metal components can direct us to the bin where we throw away cans and jars, we will have to stop to avoid collection errors. Especially in the case of WEEE waste.
It is not always easy to understand where to throw away some materials and if we are wondering where to throw away light bulbswe are not the only ones. On the one hand, the glass and metal components of the old incandescent lamps can deceive us. But on the other hand, with the new energy-saving models in multiple materials, the situation is no better.
In fact, if the first ones, which are no longer on the market, incorrectly suggested throwing them away with cans and tins, the second ones leave us with strong doubts about which bin to choose. No, the correct answer is not in the one where we throw the unsorted garbage. But let’s see below how to do it.
Where do you throw away incandescent light bulbs?
They are no longer found in stores, but in old houses it is possible that some war relics are still present, with their little knot struck by lightning. There are those who recycle them to transform them into decorations and those who look at them hoping that Thomas Edison will appear and suggest where to throw them. But if the spirit does not appear, it is better to provide in a different way.
But where do we throw incandescent light bulbs? The fact that they are made of glass and metal should not deceive us, because the bin in which we throw these two materials is not the correct one for the disposal of light waste. Even if they are not part of the WEEE category, they are multi-material waste and must be taken in the ecological islands to be broken down and disposed of.
Alternatively, you can take them to an electrical store where you can drop them off at the counter when you buy new light bulbs. The staff is equipped to receive these materials and will follow the correct procedure for storing this waste.
The good thing is that we return to our homes with brand new, energy-saving light bulbs, which are now sold everywhere, but without the stress of not knowing where to throw away the old ones.
Where to throw away LED light bulbs
LED bulbs are now the most popular, although there are still some fluorescent models, the so-called halogen bulbs. But in both cases the ecological island is once again the safe place to go and take these materials, which need a different disposal.
In fact, halogens have a high mercury content, which can be toxic to humans, so it is important that they are treated correctly and kept intact. Mercury is a heavy metal that can pollute the soil, but also cause damage to the nerves, especially in children.
LED bulbs, on the other hand, are to be considered a WEEE waste: they also have mercury in their components, but in a lower quantity than halogens. Disposal must be carried out, as mentioned, at your reference ecological island, which will take care of treating these materials in the correct way.
If we want to avoid the trip, as with incandescent light bulbs, we can also deliver the old energy-saving light bulbs to electrical retailers. Ministerial Decree 121/2016 is not lacking in transparency in this regard.
In the case of very small WEEE objects, the delivery by households should be considered free of charge. This means that an old light bulb can be delivered without purchasing a new one from authorized retailers. But common sense should discourage us from delivering mountains of waste.
If we have stocked up on used light bulbs and electronic material, a trip to the recycling centers is what we need to get rid of our waste in a civilized way.
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Source: www.greenstyle.it
