PASCO COUNTY

Fluorescent Light Bulbs Recycling Program

This recycling program is absolutely one of a handful of programs that are necessary if one would attempt to remove mercury from our environment. Even though, the amount of mercury in each fluorescent light bulb is relatively small, the shear number of units disposed of annually in a county this size, will have a cumulative and severe negative impact. Add to the fluorescent light bulb, the halides units, and the High Intensity Discharge (HID) units and the results are very negative. This program, however, is not a stand-alone program but certainly complements our hazardous waste centers where mercury-containing devices (e.g. thermometers, thermostats, nanometers, etc.) are received and properly managed.

It has been over a decade now since Pasco County Resource Recovery Facility went on line. Since the onset of its operation, county staff designed and implemented several programs the common objective of which is to ensure the removable of recyclables, the hazardous waste and specifically mercury from the solid waste stream. The battery-recycling program was an essential component of that since nearly all alkaline batteries at that time contained mercury and alkaline batteries made up 70% of all batteries collected in the early years of the program. Additionally, fluorescent light bulbs also generate glass and aluminum that can be recovered and reused.

Pasco County staff began to collect and recycle fluorescent light bulbs in the early 1995 after a mandate from FDEP even though the mandate was issued to essentially target businesses. However the staff decided to provide this service to all participating households in the county, free of charge. Businesses must take care of itself. 

In our first year of implementing this vital program, we collected and recycled over 6,000 units of light bulbs, Sodium Halides, HID and U tubes, all of which contain mercury. This number reached a high of 11,599 in Year 2000. In the Year 2002, county staff recycled 11,594 units and in 2004 we collected and recycled a total of 16,000 units that would have been otherwise incinerated.

County staff spends lots of time drawing public attention to the serious aspects of mercury contamination. As the public awareness continues, this program will continue to

grow. This program is limited to households only.

For more information or the location nearest you

Please call the

Environmental & HazWaste Manager at

(727)847-8041