Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone knows where or how to properly dispose off energy saving bulbs? I read that there's hazardous material inside, such as mercury. But then i tried searching and asking around and it seems in Malaysia, there is zero centre to collect these bulbs for recycling purpose.

Did all of you just throw the bulb as regular rubbish? Can anyone share if they have more info?

Thanks! trying to do a small bit for the environment...but getting very frustrated here due to lack of initiative from our government when it comes to handling of electrical and electronic waste...

u already senior member with lots of stars still dunno which one is Kopitiam, which one is RWI..

i was thinking before i post...

this one concerns environment... so i decide that this is under real world issue...
not simply kopitiam talk...

if admin feels this is kopitiam talk..then pls move to kopitiam...
guess no answers as well on my original question....

still feel not right to just throw as regular rubbish...

most RWI issues are deep and all-encompassing issues that effects many lives

not knowing how to throw rubbish is HARDLY a RWI worthy issue. if it really is serious, then use the serious kopitiam segment. But i doubt its even that high up the food chain.

This post has been edited by GaretJenna: Nov 18 2012, 09:52 PM

this is the problem... even you don't give a serious thought on properly disposing the rubbish....ends up pollution etc... i guess i'm just wasting my time here...

thanks anyway... i guess throwing hazardous stuff to landfill and polluting the environment is not a RWI worthy issue... not bad...now i understand how most ppl think out there... and it's low in the food chain... i have nothing further to comment....

Mercury is a highly toxic substance and everyday we're taking enough of that into our body, I certainly don't need more of that. Did a quick search in the internet and found that there are collection centres in the US for it, but I don't think we have one here yet. Recycling is a good thing, whatever it may be. If we ourselves do our bit part, the environment will be much better for future generations. Here is and interesting link to energy saving bulbs.

http://thekatycapsule.com/wordpress/the-se...ing-lightbulbs/

This post has been edited by redkop63: Nov 19 2012, 08:45 AM

Dear TS, this is how you start RWI topic.

Talking about recycling effort done by Malaysian, how do think its efficiency and effectiveness? How far does the effort affect our lives? Positively / negatively?

Are you referring to me as the TS? You got the wrong person dude. By the way, TS merely highlighted the danger of not recyling the old energy saving bulbs where toxic mercury if not keep in check may one fine day affects our health and something needed to be done, simple as that. It's much more of an awareness issue to Malaysians and I think it warrants as much importance like another other topics in RWI as this issue in Malaysia is part of the bigger issue. And how many energy saving bulbs are there nation wide?

How TS starts the topic leave it to TS as to how he/she wants to express it. More importantly, what is the information that we can decipher from TS writings. Your proposal has 2 question marks alreay while TS has given me some useful info. We're not here to learn how to write a karangan or an English composition but to disseminate and seek information and knowledge.

This post has been edited by redkop63: Nov 19 2012, 09:20 AM

just realized how immature and irresponsible some people can be towards the environment as if its nothing serious. this is why malaysia's cleanliness and environment will go no where.

in case dont know, there is a reason why light bulbs is classified as hazardous waste.

TS, just for your information. There is nothing much you could do but to dispose it at the landfill at the moment. If you really want the proper way of disposing such hazardous waste, go to your nearest DOE office or if you live nearby or dont mind the hassle of driving to seremban, stop by at a company kualiti alam and they'll more than happy to accept that from you.

redkop63 and lck*G9,

thanks for your replies, definitely much more worthy and useful replies compared to other earlier replies. I also did a search in the internet and found that other countries, they have collection centre for energy saving bulbs. In some cases, even the manufacturer will accept back old bulbs. what I can do now is to contact some of the recycling companies and ask if they do accept these energy saving light bulbs but i doubt it will be successful as most of the item they collect are either plastics, cardboards, papers, PC components. Imagine whole of Malaysia and how many pcs of these lightbulbs are discarded, from what i read, if 1 of the bulb is broken, the amount of mercury inside alone is not enough to harm us, but group them together, i think it will really impact the environment and eventually may come back to us through the food chain from mercury poisoning. i'll try to ask around further for any help but so far, no luck when it comes to this.


vanpersie91,
i think this is the first time i created a topic on RWI, heck, almost 99% of the time i don't visit RWI in lowyat also, appreciate your suggestion on how to start a proper topic. Forgive my inexperience.

If you buy energy saving bulbs from IKEA, you can send back the used ones to them. They have already started collection. Previously they only collect used batteries

I actually saw at some places where one can dispose their old pendaflour lights. IIRC, I saw one at First Subang, even at Pyramid maybe, but not too sure. They're like those places to put umbrella, except it's filled with pendaflour lamps.

Since those bulbs have mercury, similar hazardous stuff, shouldn't be a problem to dispose it along there.

IKEA and Kualiti Alam both have bulb eater to deal with light bulbs.

There's a recycling centre in IKEA near the car park. You can try asking if they collect.
Or just drop your light bulbs at the 'donation' area if you happen to go off working hours.
They are the responsible ones. So wont simply throw your rubbish.

thanks guys....i also got same reply in another thread...looks like KL/selangor area very well established...

very nice, good job to IKEA as well...i sure support them...

but too bad in Penang area....not too sure if there's any centre willing to accept bulbs....i'll try donation or recycling centres....

My pleasure and it gives me great pleasure to contribute to a meaningful thread while I learn at the same time.

---

Added on November 19, 2012, 11:34 pmThanks for the information. I'll do my little part to drop the old bulbs at Ikea. Cheers.

This post has been edited by redkop63: Nov 19 2012, 11:34 PM

What made you lose faith in Penang? Lots of students are pursuing their doctorates in Penang, and we had eco-friendly activities occasionally, so I know there are plenty of Recycling Agents in Penang. Here is the Penang Island Recycling Directory. You do realize that the collectors listed in Page 5-7 can be contacted, don't you?

hi critical,

thanks for the info. The database is 2005, i called inter venture trading and was told they no longer do e-waste. I will call the rest as well. this is a good list, thanks again!

---

Added on November 20, 2012, 10:50 amWell, in Penang, if you recall Sunshine Farlim supermarket, they used to have an area where you can throw the bulbs for recycling. But since Farlim supermarket tutup kedai, i can't find a place where i can easily just drop off the CFL and energy saving bulbs for recycling anymore. To encourage recycling, it has to be easy for consumers to just drop off the item.

Take for example the PC recycling, someone will be waiting at Sunshine Bayan Baru on specific days and time and you can just drop your stuff there easily. That should be the way to encourage ppl to recycle and dispose hazardous material properly...



cheers!

This post has been edited by kevyeoh: Nov 20 2012, 10:50 AM

Penang? Forget about it. They welcome highly polluting Bosch solar panel factory so what do you expect? Even the Chinese don't want those factory in China.

OK, I will list the possible options.

1. Throw in the rubbish. It will be crushed by the dump truck, and dumped in the landfill. The mercury will leak and eventually poison the underground water supply.

2. Keep it in your attic. The day you die, your children will find this. "Why did dad/mom keep all these light bulbs in these boxes. There must be 200 of them. And they're all spoilt. Let's throw them in the rubbish" ... "oh, wait, there's a label here. It says 'do not throw in rubbish, mercury will poison our environment'".

3. Dig a small hole in the garden, maybe 2 feet deep. Bury the bulbs. Hopefully, people walking over it would not break the bulbs. Hopefully, the next time you dig a hole, you don't hit one of these burried bulbs.

4. Put the bulb in a big glass jar, along with some chemical that will react and bond with the mercury making it liquid or solid. Close the lid, break the bulb.

BTW: we're not supposed to throw used batteries in the trash either. But guess what everyone does?

hi all,

i found a place at Queensbay Penang, Jusco supermarket at ground floor...if you go to the push cart area, there's one collection box for handphone e-waste as well as battery recycling. I also notice a lot of ppl leave their energy saving bulbs there and i guess the recycle factory will collect them. hope this information is useful. cheers !

dkk,
your solution cannot-lah.... throw in rubbish...nah... keep in attic, that's what i did until i find a place to throw lor...dig a small hole? nah...apartment mana can dig? put in big glass of jar and use some chemical? sounds scary and dangerous! haha...

---

Added on November 20, 2012, 9:11 pmalready found a place to dispose, so already met my objective. maybe will just leave this thread if anyone else has something new to share on recycling collection center etc...

This post has been edited by kevyeoh: Nov 20 2012, 09:11 PM