It is estimated that Australia generates from 30+ million end-of-life
fluorescent tubes and a further 20+ million end-of-life
mercury-containing globes (CFL/HID etc). Currently, around 96% of these
end up in landfill.
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that contaminates water supplies through leakage from landfill.
There
is growing environmental and social desire to eliminate dangerous
chemicals from entering landfill and subsequently finding their way into
waterways and our living environment.
At the same time, it is
also highly desirable to recycle as much metal and glass to further
reduce the community's carbon footprint.
The Federal Government
recently launched the FluoroCycle Scheme (Sep 2010), which is indicative
of the issue's growing importance.