New fluorescent light tube crusher for landfill

BY CHRISTY MARSTERS

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

The Municipality of West Hants has purchased a piece of equipment to help lighten the local landfill load. A new light tube crusher will be used to dispose of fluorescent bulb wastes.

Waste Reduction coordinator Christine McClare said the Mark 2000 Fluorescent Light Crusher is a sophisticated handling unit that captures and contains the gas, dust and mercury found in these lights. “Users of the West Hants landfill are able to drop off spent lights at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot for safe handling and disposal,” she said.

There are no opportunities yet to recycle the crushed bulbs, but the West Hants landfill is one of the first in the province to purchase a fluorescent light crusher, McClare said. “(The fluorescent light crusher) contents are sent for safe disposal as hazardous waste.”

The environmental impact of burying spent fluorescent tubes is a community concern, McClare said. “As a response to concerns, and to protect our environment and workers from phosphor dust and mercury vapour in fluorescent lights, the unit was purchased.”

The Mark 2000 Fluorescent Light Crusher cost the municipality approximately $3,000. “It is anticipated the Nova Scotia government will ban the disposal of fluorescent lamps, both straight and compact, in the future,” McClare added. “By having the crusher now, West Hants benefits immediately. As more bulbs are used and ready for disposal over time, the fluorescent light crusher will continue protecting workers and the environment.”

Warden Richard Dauphinee said the province should eventually mandate disposal of these bulbs. “We know a fluorescent bulb will damage the environment and is hazardous to health.”

An example of council trying to reduce waste in the landfill can be seen also from the battery collection in West Hants, Dauphinee added. “We’re trying to do the right thing.”