Are there any problems in disposal of compact fluorescent globes?
Compact fluorescent globes contain metals like mercury which is not good for the environment. More importantly, mercury is a readily reusable product and can be recycled, along with the other valuable materials in globes like ceramic glass, aluminium, and phosphorus, most of which can be reused to make other products. To date, facilities to recycle CFLs have not been readily available in Victoria. However, Sustainability Victoria and Lighting Council Australia have recently trialed a program called Flashback. The recovered materials including mercury, aluminium, glass and phosphor are sold off for reuse. The Flashback pilot program is running for approximately four months from 4th June 2008. Flashback is collecting all household mercury containing globes, including spiral and linear compact fluorescent (CFL) plug in type CFL, linear fluorescent T2 T4 T5 T8 T12 Circular and U-shaped. All filament type incandescent bulbs are also accepted. The only location in Melbourne for the pilot is
