Safe disposal of energy-saving light bulbs

Energy-saving light bulbs are more energy-efficient than incandescent lamps because they contain a small amount of mercury. Mercury is toxic to human health and harmful to the environment (the small amount of mercury in one bulb is not a hazard to users).

How do you dispose of them safely?

Energy-saving and fluorescent light bulbs must be disposed of properly to avoid contaminating our environment with mercury.

Do

For safe disposal bring your bulbs to Council’s Pascoe Street Transfer Station.

Click here for address and hours of Pascoe Street Transfer Station.

Don’t

Do not put energy-saving or fluorescent bulbs in your rubbish bags or wheelie bin.

Do not put them out with your kerbside recycling.

Do not use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the debris from a smashed bulb, and avoid inhalation of any dust. Instead, use rubber or disposable gloves, a disposable mask, and paper towels to clean up (sticky tape can also be used) debris. Gloves, paper and mask should all go in the refuse bin. The broken bulb should be placed in a sealed bag and be taken to the Transfer Station.

Commercial hazardous waste, including bulbs, batteries and other hazardous materials, is not accepted at the Transfer Station. The business is responsible for its safe disposal.

What happens to the mercury?

Our recycling contractor sends the material to the collection facility in Christchurch, where the mercury is recycled.

What about heavy-metal batteries?

Just as for energy-saving bulbs, batteries that contain heavy metals (lead, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, lithium and mercury) should be brought to the transfer station. Ordinary alkaline (carbon zinc) batteries can go out with your rubbish.

Where do I bring them?

Pascoe Street Transfer Station. Vivian Place (off Pascoe Street), Tahunanui. Ph 548 5760

Hours

Monday - Friday,  8am - 4:30pm,
Tuesday night (during daylight saving) 8am - 7pm
Saturday (summer, 1 Sept - 31 Apr) 8am - 4.30pm,
Saturday (winter, 1 May - 31 Aug) 9am - 4.30pm,
Sunday 10am - 4.30pm
Anzac Day 1pm - 4.30pm.
Closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day, New Years Day.

Other hazardous waste

Other hazardous waste from your home must also be brought to the Transfer Station instead of going out with your rubbish, including:

• Plant and pest sprays
• Waste oil
• LPG bottles
• Household chemicals

Find out more

You can get more information about safe disposal of hazardous waste on the Ministry for the Environment website.

Click here to go to the Ministry for the Environment's website.

For more information on Nelson City Council’s rubbish and recycling programmes, please contact Technical Services Customer Support, ph +64 3 546 0204.