Energy efficient light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury (less than 5 milligrams per lamp) and are therefore classified as hazardous waste. They should be disposed of responsibly by local authorities (LAs) and in accordance with waste regulations.
From 1 July this year, long life bulbs, where collected with other waste electrical equipment, will need to be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. LAs that register their civic amenity sites as designated collection facilities (DCFs) for WEEE will be entitled to free collection from those sites by producer compliance schemes. Once these bulbs are collected, producers will be responsible for their treatment and recycling. Guidance on the WEEE regulations, including on how LAs can register their sites as DCFs, is available from the Department for Trade and Industry. Guidance on the WEEE treatment requirements was issued by DEFRA in November 2006.
There is increasing evidence that the mercury in each energy efficient bulb is considerably outweighed by the mercury put into the atmosphere through the additional electricity generation required to operate a traditional bulb.