Fluorescent Tube Storage

A cleverly designed locker system means we can offer the most safe, secure and space efficient storage available. Our lockers are available for fluorescent tube and bulb storage. They are finished in a manner which will be compatible with surroundings in the factory on the factory floor or in commercial premises, schools, colleges and other public buildings.

Our TubeStore, has been designed for maximum security for waste lighting and can therefore be located anywhere. Our Stores are an upright system, and due to our unique collection arrangements are a permanent fixture, meaning space taken for storage is minimised within your premises. Each TubeStore holds between 100 and 170 tubes, and where necessary Stores can be bolted directly together to optimise space.

Recycling and Disposal

The light tubes collected from our customers are taken to a licensed processing site to be safely treated. The mercury and phosphor powder are separated and collected for recovery, as are the glass and aluminium end caps. The glass is then taken to a glass company to be processed back into bottles.

The recycling site used for all our collected wastes is a Sustainalite and iso9000 accredited facility.

New Legislation

During 2004, 2005 and 2006 legislation is being implemented which seriously affects every business in the UK. The major parts of the Landfill Directive were implemented in July 2004 that reduced the number of landfill sites where hazardous wastes (these include fluorescent tubes, cathode rays tubes and contaminated soils as well as those more normally considered as hazardous such as toxic chemicals and asbestos) can be disposed from around 240 to 10-12.

The Hazardous Waste Regulations and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations will be implemented during 2005 and 2006. These will make all companies, hospitals and householders (through the collection and disposal authorities) recycle redundant equipment such as fridges, toasters, televisions, fluorescent tubes, computers, lighting, and anything else with an electrical charge.

The Environment Agency is the enforcing authority for these regulations. The purpose of the regulations is to minimise the impact of the disposal of hazardous wastes and to divert to recycling activities.

Audit Trail

All our collections are fully audited. All containers of crushed tubes are labelled, Duty of Care waste transfer notes provided, and a record kept of where the waste from each customer has been taken. We also document the eventual treatment or disposal route.

Danger - About Fluorescent Tubes and Mercury

There are estimated to be around 100 million fluorescent tubes and lights in use in the UK and around 70 million changed each year to enter the waste stream. Fluorescent light is produced by passing an electric current through mercury vapour to generate ultraviolet energy. A phophor coating inside the tube transforms this to visible light. A single four foot fluorescent tube contains around 23 milligrams of mercury, a toxic metal that can cause serious water pollution, and is readily taken up by fish, plants and crops causing bioaccumulation in foods in the human diet.

Direct exposure by inhalation of mercury (the vapour is readily absorbed) can cause serious damage to kidneys (damaging the filtration process), liver and lungs (causing breathlessness, coughs, chest pain and impairment of lung function). It can also accumulate in the brain and foetal tissues, and cause damage to the central nervous system (symptoms include tremors, decreased concentration, blurred vision and decreased nerve conduction).

DON'T FORGET as a Director, you are PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE