Recycling electric items can be different than recycling paper, glass, and plastic materials. Electric items are accepted at some facilities and not others. Sometimes, you will have to break down an item into parts in order to be able to recycle the item. If you want to know how to safely recycle electric lights from your household, here are three steps to follow.
1. Find out the parts inside of the item
The is necessary to figure out the parts that the items are made of in order to take the materials to the correct recycling plant. Lamps recycling can be especially involved in this way. The lamp may have some copper wiring, a wooden or glass base, and a bulb that features mercury. Read the label of the product in order to determine what the parts of the product are made of. This will allow you to take the electric item to the right facility where it will not be turned away.
2. Take the item apart if possible
Most recycling plants will insist that the parts of a product be placed in the correct area or bin. If you are taking a large lamp, chandelier, or another electric item to recycling, Take the item apart as much as you can. Remove any bulbs and their wiring and place them into a separate bag. You want to avoid the bulbs shattering due to the mercury content. If the base has any iron or copper on the interior, you can remove this for sale and leave the base for recycling with its proper material. Taking the item materials apart will allow the recycling plant to assess the item an easier time.
3. Take the battery to a safe location
Batteries are the one part of any lamp that you will need to be the most careful with. In many jurisdictions, batteries of any kind are banned from being thrown into the trash cans or regular recycling. Batteries are made with acid that can be hazardous if leaked, so batteries must be disposed of separately. If the electric item has a battery of any kind, remove the battery from the compartment. Take the battery to a battery disposal and recycling shop. If the battery is large, be sure to request a cost quote for disposal. Small batteries are often taken free of charge. Be sure to note the type and voltage of the battery when providing the battery to a disposal plant so that the battery can be handled properly.
For more information, contact your local lamp recycling service.
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