Fluorescent light tubes and low energy consumption light bulbs

These should NOT be put out either with your general household waste (green wheelie) or into your green box, as:

-   they are made of more than just glass

-   they contain small amounts of mercury, which is highly toxic.  

Furthermore, official advice from the Department of the Environment states that if a low-energy bulb is smashed, the room needs to be vacated for at least 15 minutes to avoid the risk of inhaling airborne particles of mercury.  A vacuum cleaner should not be used to clear up the debris, and care should be taken not to inhale the dust.

These bulbs (and fluorescent tubes, which also contain mercury) should be taken to Redbridge, where there is a bin marked ‘All light bulbs and fluorescent tubes’ on the right hand side soon after you enter the site.

See BBC News website article. 

Even ordinary (tungsten) light bulbs should not go into the green box, as they are not solely made of glass.

Alternatively, unbroken used tubes and bulbs can be taken back to the retailer, if the retailer is a member of the Distributor Takeback Scheme.