The complete fluorescent tube collection and recycling service is available from Wiser Recycling throughout the UK. We are one of the few UK companies that manage the whole recycling process – end-to-end. From collection to treatment and recycling, we provide a fully compliant and environmentally friendly service.
As a logical first step, take advantage of our secure and durable containers and start storing your fluorescent tubes safely. To find out more and join the many other organisations that are already benefitting, contact us or call on 01480 464111.
Jump to:
– Collection
– Recycling
– Treatment
– A Cost-Effective Service
– Frequently Asked Questions
Fluorescent Tube Collection, Recycling & Treatment
Since 2003, we have been processing WEEE – including fluorescent tubes – in a responsible and reliable manner. At Wiser Recycling, we prioritise understanding and building a long-term working relationship with our customers. To date, our waste carrier fleet routinely collects fluorescent tubes and all other types of gas discharge lamps from a variety of UK businesses and organisations. As a result, many of our customers have peace of mind that their unwanted lighting is recycled compliantly.
Who we work with
Wiser Recycling provides a friendly and reliable fluorescent tube and other lighting equipment – including sodium SON and SOX lamps – collection, and recycling service to a wide range of organisations. Across the UK, we go the extra mile whether you have 10 or 10,000 fluorescent tubes! Our clients include:
| RPS Number | Description | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|
| RPS C1 | Cleansing and PPE waste at a healthcare waste management facility | 31/03/2021 |
| RPS C2 | Exceeding waste storage limits at permitted sites because of COVID-19 | 30/09/2020 |
| RPS C3 | Water and Sewerage Company OSM and UWWTR sampling affected by COVID-19 | 30/09/2020 |
| RPS C4 | Incinerating specified healthcare wastes at a municipal waste incinerator | 30/06/2020 |
| RPS C5 | PPE waste from home healthcare workers treating patients with COVID-19 | 31/03/2021 |
| RPS C6 | Storing treated sewage sludge you cannot move because of COVID-19 restrictions | 30/09/2020 |
| RPS C7 | Monitoring emissions from some environmental permitting activities | 30/09/2020 |
| RPS C8 | Social distancing when signing and handing over waste transfer and consignment notes in person | 31/03/2021 |
| RPS C9 | COVID-19 and packaging waste: registering as a packaging producer | 08/07/2020 |
| RPS C10 | Reporting for installations, radioactive substances and waste permits | 30/09/2020 |
| RPS C11 | Emissions to air from large combustion plant during black start events | 31/07/2020 |
| RPS C12 | COVID-19 and spreading slurry or milk on land, or storing slurry | 30/09/2020 |
| RPS C13 | Accumulating radioactive waste that you cannot transfer because of COVID-19 | 31/03/2021 |
| RPS C14 | COVID-19 and delaying hazardous waste consignee returns | 31/07/2020 |
| RPS C15 | COVID-19 and exceeding permit limits for medical use of radioactive substances | 31/03/2021 |
| RPS C17 | COVID-19 and storing waste at unpermitted sites due to exceeding your storage limits | 30/09/2020 |
| RPS C18 | Emissions to air from Large Combustion Plant in the Transitional National Plan | 30/11/2020 |
| RPS C20 | Monitoring emissions from some environmental permitting activities | 31/01/2021 |
We collect fluorescent tubes directly from you
Wiser Recycling offers safe and compliant fluorescent tube collections. To begin with, we provide our customers with flexible and durable specialist fluorescent tube containers. Here, the customer can handle and store their unwanted fluorescent tubes safely. Once the customer is ready, a friendly driver from our FORS certified fleet will come to collect the waste tubes in a timely manner. Trained to a high standard, our experienced drivers provide an exemplary and safe service.
Available across the UK
Our FORS certified fleet can cover all parts of the UK. Every working day, our fleet collects fluorescent tubes and WEEE from our customers. Wiser Recycling’s office-based collections team organise and track the whole process. So, you can have confidence that your collection is scheduled and ready to go ahead. Furthermore, you can also keep an eye on the status of your collection at any time by giving our collections team a call on 01480 464111.
Free collections
Helping to provide our customers with the best value possible, Wiser Recycling offers a free collection service. Provided that your collection point is within a 50-mile radius of our approved and authorised treatment facilities (AATF) and weighs over 500kg. The catchment area includes many of the UK’s most populous cities. This includes London (north of the river), East Anglia, Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber.
Beyond the free collection areas, our transport charges start from a competitive £84. See our transport fee table for more information. Alternatively, you can easily drop off your unwanted tubes directly at our AATFs for free. Contact us or call on 01480 464111 to book a collection or drop off today.
An efficient fluorescent tube recycling process
Strategically placed across the UK, Wiser Recycling operates two state of the art AATFs. Based in the North and East of England, our AATFs operate compliantly under their environmental permits. Enshrined as a part of our culture, we aim to produce clean high-quality materials as an output of our fluorescent tube recycling process; maximising the market’s demand for our recycled end-product.
State of the art AATFs
Our recycling process ensures that your unwanted tubes do not end up directly in a landfill – causing harm to the environment. First, a specialist compact crush and sieve machine crushes the fluorescent tubes. This machine allows us to separate and recover the valuable glass cullet from the other fluorescent tube components.
The recovered glass cullet is then recycled and used within the manufacture of paving slabs and aggregate. Alongside this, we recycle your fluorescent tube’s old non-ferrous metals and plastic components into new parts. In working with Wiser Recycling you will be contributing towards the UK’s circular economy.
Safe & compliant fluorescent tube treatment
Primarily, the dangerous and hazardous component of a fluorescent tube is the mercury-containing phosphor powder. This substance is dangerous because it can cause harm to human health and the environment. Moreover, any breakage or damage to a fluorescent tube could result in potential exposure to the invisible and odourless mercury vapour. Maintaining compliance, we separate the mercury-containing phosphor powder and secure it in into sealed and airtight containers – ready for responsible and compliant further treatment.
In short, our advanced fluorescent tube treatment process safely isolates the hazardous mercury-containing phosphor powder and recycles the valuable materials. By removing the need to needlessly landfill valuable materials, Wiser Recycling’s treatment process positively impacts the environment and retains resources for future use. Learn more about the lamp recycling process that puts us light years ahead!
Cost-effective service
At Wiser Recycling, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with the most cost-effective service available. Operating multiple AATFs across the UK gives us an edge over the competition. Alongside offering free collections for large quantities of fluorescent tubes, we also offer competitive transport charges for smaller volumes
Our transport fee table below illustrates how cost-effective our fluorescent tube collection and recycling service is. To find your nearest Wiser Recycling AATF and your transport fees – enter your location or postcode area into the table’s search box. This fee does not include a £33+VAT hazardous waste consignment note.
| WEEE Type | Classification | Hazardous Waste Status | POPs Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Domestic Appliances (LDA) – white goods | 20 01 36 Household type | Non-hazardous waste | Non-POPs |
| Refrigeration equipment containing ozone depleting substances | 20 01 23* Household type 16 02 11* Other | Hazardous waste | Non-POPs waste |
| Other refrigeration equipment | 20 01 35* Household type 16 02 13* Other | Hazardous waste | Non-POPs waste |
| Display Devices - Cathode ray tubes - Flat Panel | 20 01 35* Household type | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| Small mixed WEEE (SMW) | 20 01 35* and 20 01 36 (assign two codes) | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| Separately collected categories of WEEE (of a household type and from any source) 1. Large household appliances (other than LDA white goods) 2. Small household appliances 3. IT and telecoms equipment 4. Consumer equipment 5. Lighting equipment 6. Electrical and electronic tools 7. Toys, leisure and sport equipment | 20 01 35* and 20 01 36 (assign two codes) | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| Office equipment (dual use – of a type similar to household items) | 20 01 35* and 20 01 36 (assign two codes) | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| Office equipment - business to business | 16 02 13* | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| Categories 8. Medical Devices 9. Monitoring and Control Instruments 10. Automatic dispensers | 20 01 35* Household type 16 02 13* Other | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| Lamps and Lightbulbs with plastic components and/or printed circuit boards. | 20 01 35* Household type 16 02 13* Other | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| Plastic components removed from display devices (including those that are subsequently baled, crushed or shredded) | 16 02 15* and 16 02 16 (dual code | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| Printed Circuit Boards (including those removed before or during waste treatment) | 16 02 15* | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| WEEE Cable - interior and exterior (including those removed before or during waste treatment) | 16 02 15* and 16 02 16 (dual code) | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
| Other WEEE not listed | 20 01 35* Household type 16 02 13* Other | Hazardous waste | POPs waste |
Fluorescent tube recycling service – book a collection today
Recycle your unwanted fluorescent tubes today. Our fully compliant all-in-one service is ready to recycle your unwanted lighting. Additionally, we can collect your WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) during our visit as well.
At Wiser Recycling, we go the extra mile no matter the size of your business – whether you have 10 or 10,000 lights. Reduce your costs and environmental impact today and contact us or call our friendly team on 01480 464111 to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it dangerous to break fluorescent tubes?
Yes, a broken fluorescent tube is dangerous. This is because each tube has mercury-containing phosphor powder. Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause serious damage to the brain, lungs, kidneys and other vital organs. The World Health Organisation site tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects and headaches as potential signs of mercury poisoning. - Are fluorescent tubes hazardous?
Yes, fluorescent tubes are classified as hazardous waste. WM3 classify such lighting equipment as 20 01 21*. This means that unwanted fluorescent tubes should follow hazardous waste regulations. This includes producing a consignment note when moving the waste and use an AATF to recycle and treat your hazardous fluorescent tubes. - Can you put fluorescent tubes in a skip?
No, you should not put unwanted fluorescent tubes in a skip. Their hazardous nature means that producers of waste fluorescent tubes need to (i) classify them as hazardous waste, (ii) separate and safely store them, (iii) use authorised businesses to collect and recycle them, (iv) fill in a consignment note and (v) keep those records for 3 years. - Where can I recycle fluorescent tubes near me?
You can recycling your fluorescent tubes at one of Wiser Recycling’s AATFs. Based in the North and East of England, our AATFs can compliantly treat your unwanted lighting equipment. Find your nearest AATF with our transport fee table.
