Solid Waste has bright idea to keep mercury out of environment

Posted: December 11, 2008

The St. Lucie County Solid Waste recycling facility, which normally does not accept hazardous waste from businesses at its Baling and Recycling facility, is making an exception when it comes to the disposal and recycling of fluorescent bulbs, in an effort to curb the release of toxic mercury into the environment.

At a cost of 20 cents per bulb, the facility, located at 6120 Glades Cut-Off Road in Fort Pierce, will accept fluorescent bulbs from businesses.  Residents are permitted to dispose of the bulbs at the facility for free. 

Since the inception of the program for businesses several months ago, the Solid Waste Department estimates over 12,000 bulbs have been recycled.  The department estimates the mercury that would otherwise have been released into the environment from this number of bulbs is 144,000 mg.

According to scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a science and technology laboratory which is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy, landfills represent the only identified human source of Dimethyl-mercury into the atmosphere.  Dimethyl-mercury is a highly toxic, flammable liquid.  Because of the small amount of mercury contained in fluorescent bulbs, they are not good candidates to be sent to landfills.

The Baling and Recycling facility will accept electronics, such as old computers, televisions, keyboards, radios and phones at no cost to both businesses and residents.

For more information on the St. Lucie County Solid Waste Baling and Recycling Facility, visit  www.stlucieco.gov/solid_waste/hh_hazard_waste.htm or call (772) 462-1768.