How to Dispose of Halogen Light Bulbs

Disposing of halogen light bulbs is easy. It's also important. Local authorities sometimes provide special centers for light bulb disposal, but no matter where you live, you can do your part to dispose of halogen light bulbs safely..

About Halogen Light Bulbs

Halogen bulbs are incandescent light bulbs, just like the old fashioned, inefficient bulbs that are being replaced with halogen bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs. The financial and energy savings from using halogen light bulbs aren't as great as the savings offered by CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), but since halogens don't have mercury powder inside, consumers often prefer them to CFLs. Halogen bulbs contain halogen gas, an inert gas which extends the life of the bulb to three times as long as standard incandescent ones. This gas is not a hazardous substance and is classed as safe for home use by the EPA.

Advantages of Halogen Light Bulbs

Halogen light bulbs offer the following advantages over other types of light bulbs:

  • More energy efficient than other types of incandescent bulbs
  • Smaller size
  • No blackening of the bulb’s glass
  • Halogen bulbs last 2-3 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs
  • No mercury used in the manufacture or present inside the bulb.
  • Heat and light emitted are useful for certain home applications.
  • Halogen bulbs offer a less yellow toned light.

Halogen Light Bulbs Do Not Contain Mercury

How to Dispose of Halogen LightsThe rumor that halogen light bulbs contain mercury is false. It was caused by a technique where the light bulb has been painted with a blue coating, to make it resemble a HD bulb by giving off a slightly blue tone in their light. Homeowners can replace any whole or broken halogen bulbs knowing that they're mercury-free.

The US government issued a mandate in 2003 to require all light bulbs containing mercury to bear the label, "Contains Mercury," or be stamped with the chemical symbol for the element, which is ,”Hg.” This ensures any bulbs can be identified and classified as safe to throw away in the trash or needing special disposal.

Uses for Halogen Bulbs

Since halogen bulbs offer heat as well as light, common applications include use in fish tanks, to warm small bathroom areas, and as part of a UV light system used for health benefits and in cars and other vehicles. Stage and industrial lighting systems often make use of the properties of halogen bulbs where lighting needs to be more intense and left on for long periods of time.

Disposing of Halogen Light Bulbs

Halogen bulbs can safely be added to the usual household trash. Any broken bulbs should be wrapped in such a way no accidental injuries can result for those who collect your trash. Bubble wrap, several layers of household paper towel, covered with a labeled outer bag, such as a Ziploc bag, will all identify the contents as hazardous. No tape should be used with this packaging up of bulbs since it takes the workers time to get into the bag.

The Case for Recycling Halogen Light Bulbs

Recycling has had a huge impact on the amounts of reclaimable materials that are discarded every year. If a light bulb is to be recycled, it must be taken to a facility where the glass, metal and other components are separated out and used in the manufacture of new products, rather than being added to the amounts already present in landfills, or awaiting incineration. All a homeowner needs to do is place trash in separate containers, and either deliver them to a center set up to do this work, or arrange for local services to collect them from their home.

The Future of Halogen Light Bulbs

In Europe, governments are considering legislation to mandate the use of energy efficient bulbs, since the amount of power needed to power the older style, multiplied by the number of bulbs per house, then houses per nation, would offer a huge savings in cost and emissions. Whether Halogen bulbs survive this proposed change or not, the future is lit with bulbs that offer greater amounts of light at lesser costs.

How to Clean Up a Broken Halogen Light Bulb

The biggest risk a broken halogen bulb presents is injury by cuts from the glass shards. A safe way to locate all the tiny pieces and prevent later injury from unseen fragments involves using a softer brush and a wet tissue. After gently brushing the carpet of surface where the fragment fell, try dabbing with a wet tissue, paper towel or napkin, to collect up all the glass. Vacuuming can be carried out after the larger particles have been removed, to prevent damage to the interior bag of your machine. Care should be taken when picking up small pieces of glass, since halogen bulls can reach much hotter temperatures than other bulbs, a burn can result from contact with the glass immediately after breakage.

How to Remove a Broken Halogen Bulb from a Lamp. 

  • The most important safety measure is to turn off the appliance and unplug it from the power supply, since an exposed element inside the bulb carries electricity and may shock, even when broken, if touched by the skin or other materials which conduct electricity.
  • Allow the bulb to cool before trying to remove it from a lamp. Halogen bulbs are hotter than CFLs and ordinary incandescent lights.
  • Collect larger glass fragments by hand, with great care, and then brush the surface gently into a dustpan, covering all the area glass could have possibly spread to.
  • Vacuum only when no more visible glass is left.
  • Place an old towel on the floor, and put the lamp onto it.
  • Cut a potato in half, through the middle, not lengthways.
  • Gently place the cut potato onto the broken glass shards which remain in the lamp, pushing down just enough to ensure all the glass shards are safely embedded in the surface of the cut potato.
  • Turn the potato counter clockwise to release the broken light bulb from its appliance.
  • Bag safely and label the contents to prevent injury.
  • Dispose of in your trash or at a local recycling center.

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