Keeping toxic waste from landfill

4 Aug 2021

Strathbogie Shire Council is covering the cost to keep fluorescent lights out of landfill to keep toxic mercury from damaging the environment.

Fluorescent lights contain a small amount of mercury and it is estimated 95 per cent of mercury-containing lamps are currently sent to landfill in Australia.

Mercury in landfill becomes toxic, creating risks to environmental and human health as it spreads through the wider environment via the air, water and soil.

Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor Cr Chris Raeburn said community members could drop old fluorescent lights to any participating Council Transfer Station free of charge.

“Our Transfer Stations in Euroa, Nagambie and Violet Town will take the old lights and most importantly this service is free of charge,” Cr Raeburn said.

“By recycling your fluorescent lights, you are ensuring they are diverted from landfill while reducing the risk to the environment and people’s health.

“The collected fluorescent lights are transported safely to an approved reprocessing facility, where the metal, glass and mercury bearing phosphor powder are recovered and reused through the recycling process.”

Community members are reminded only unbroken fluorescent light will be accepted at Council’s participating Transfer Stations in the appropriate storage facility.

Broken lights should be wrapped in newspaper and placed in your red bin.

CommunityInfo