Fluorescent Light Bulbs can be recycled

Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury and phosphorous and it is important that
they do not go into the normal household rubbish as there is a very real risk that the mercury
will contaminate ground water.

To this end, householders are now able to place the blown (but not broken) bulbs into a
cardboard box or secure bag and deliver the box or bag to any of the Council Service Centre
offices throughout the district.

The bulbs will then be sent to a firm in Auckland where they will be crushed in a special
machine that will recover the mercury and any other recyclable materials. The glass is
recycled into fibreglass insulation, the mercury is re-used for thermometers and electrical
switches, and the phosphorous is used in the manufacture of fertiliser.