* Sodium, fluorescent, Lamps And Bulbs. Mercury is an essential ingredient for most energy-efficient lamps. Fluorescent lamps and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps are the two most common types of lamps that utilize mercury. Fluorescent lamps provide lighting for most schools, office buildings and stores. HID lamps, which include mercury-vapor, metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamps, are used for street lights, floodlights and industrial lighting. A typical fluorescent lamp is composed of a phosphor-coated glass tube with electrodes located at either end. The tube contains mercury, of which only a very small amount is in vapor form. When a voltage is applied, the electrodes energize the mercury vapor, causing it to emit ultraviolet (UV) energy. The phosphor coating absorbs the UV energy, causing the phosphor to fluoresce and emit visible light. The Mercury from 1 single tube is enough to polute upto 28,000 litres of water. Fluorescent Tubes contain in general 94% Glass, 4% Ferrous and Non ferrous metals, and 2% Phosphor Powder, It is within this phosphor powder that the most hazardous element is contained "Mercury". The Environment Agency has therefore determined that Fluorescent Tubes are now classified as Hazardous Waste in England and Wales , as Special Waste by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), and therefore should preferably be recycled or if absolutely necessary, taken to specific landfill sites which can cater for mercury bearing wastes. The actual number of sites in the UK that can cater for such waste is very limited and, given high transportation and disposal costs nowadays, this makes recycling of your Fluorescent Tubes and Lamps the most economical and environmentally friendly option. | 
