Fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs can be recycled using these kits. Fluorescent tubes, including T5, T8, and T12, are commonly recycled due to their mercury content. CFLs, which are smaller versions of fluorescent lamps, are also recyclable for the same reason. HID lamps, such as metal halide, high-pressure sodium, and mercury vapor lamps, are included because they contain hazardous materials like mercury and other metals.
LED bulbs, although not containing mercury, can be recycled to recover valuable materials like metals and plastics. Incandescent and halogen bulbs are generally not recycled through these kits due to their low recovery value and lack of hazardous materials, but some programs may accept them for material recovery.
Ballasts, which regulate the current to the lamps, can also be recycled. Magnetic ballasts, often found in older lighting systems, may contain PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), which are hazardous and require special handling. Electronic ballasts, used in newer systems, do not contain PCBs but can be recycled for their metal and electronic components.
Recycling kits are designed to safely collect and transport these items to specialized facilities where they are processed to recover materials and safely dispose of hazardous substances.