Recycling

All types of lighting fixtures can be recycled. The recycling process produces reusable materials such as ferrous metals, copper, aluminium, glass, plastic, and other recoverable materials, which are reused to a very large extent.

Special waste management products are transferred to specially licensed companies for further processing.

Recyclable Items

• All types of lighting fixtures, including household fixtures.
• Other lighting equipment and equipment for projecting or controlling light.
• Incandescent lamps.

Lamps Containing Mercury

The following lamps contain mercury and must be disposed of in special recycling containers, as they require a specific treatment process.

Warning: It is very important to handle these lamps with care, as mercury is released into the environment if they break.

• Linear fluorescent lamps.
• Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL).
• High-pressure discharge lamps, including sodium, mercury, and metal halide lamps.

Materials Recovered from Lamp Recycling

Used lamps are transferred to specialized recycling facilities, where the following materials are recovered:

• Glass: used for manufacturing new lamps.
• Metals: fully recycled.
• Fluorescent powder: separated and reused.
• Mercury: purified and reused.

General Precautions

With the phase-out of incandescent lamps, energy-saving lamps are increasingly being used, some of which contain small amounts of mercury.

Mercury and its compounds can enter the ecosystem. For this reason, it is everyone's responsibility to reduce this possibility.

When installing or removing lamps:

• Always hold the lamp by the plastic base and not by the glass part.
• Place the burned-out lamp inside the packaging of the new lamp for safe transport.
• Dispose of it in a dedicated lamp collection recycling container.

In Case of Lamp Breakage

If a lamp breaks during collection, follow these steps:

1. Open the windows and ventilate the area well for several hours.
2. Wear gloves before collecting the broken pieces.
3. Collect the remains and place them in an airtight container.
4. Use adhesive tape to collect small fragments.
5. Do not use a vacuum cleaner, as it may spread mercury in the area and contaminate the device.
6. Dispose of the sealed container in a dedicated lamp recycling collection bin.

Recycling Organizations in Greece

Two approved collective recycling systems for lamps and lighting fixtures operate in Greece:

• FOTOKYKLOSI S.A.
  www.fotokiklosi.gr
• RECYCLING APPLIANCES S.A.
  www.electrocycle.gr

Source: Fotokiklosi S.A.