Wanton dumping of old lights can be harmful - The Star

Jan12 2015 - BY LIM CHIA YING

To ensure safe disposal of mercury-containing lights, a trade group has placed collection bins in some areas.

We all know that electricity powers the lighting in our homes and offices. But do we also know that the light radiating from fluorescent lamps is produced by mercury?

While the mercury content in fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps is relatively negligible, it becomes hazardous if it leaks in considerable amounts due to indiscriminate disposal. The spilt mercury can seep into underground water sources, possibly causing an environmental and public health nuisance.

Though Kualiti Alam collects and manages hazardous waste such as this, most people might not know about the company to engage its services. Also, the lack of volume from households warrants little action for the waste collection.

To encourage proper and responsible disposal of fluorescent lights among the public, the Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) has put up collection bins at 19 sites in the Klang Valley and at Pangkor Island, Perak. These sites (listed atwww.teaam.org.my) are mostly outlets belonging to the association’s members, with a handful in shopping malls, a restaurant and a school.

The bins have compartments large enough to fit a typical fluorescent lamp.

The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia has initiated a collection system for old lights. Here, group president Chew shows the collection bin that can be placed in malls, schools, retail stores and commercial buildings.

Association president Chew Shee Fuee says the public should wrap used or defective lamps with newspapers before discarding them in the cardboard bins so as to prevent breakage during transportation to Kualiti Alam for disposal.

TEEAM was founded in 1952 and currently has 1,800 members comprising contractors, traders and manufacturers in the electrical and electronics industry. It initiated the old lights collection project in 2013 after obtaining funding of US$20,000 (RM71,000) from the Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Programme implemented by the United Nations Development Programme.

The project initially focused solely on compact fluorescent lamps, with the funds spent on collection bins, public awareness campaigns and printing of brochures.

“We also collaborated with Prasarana for the placement of collection bins at their LRT stations,” says Chew. They collected 10,000 compact fluorescent lamps during the first year of the project.

“As these lights originated from our industry, we want to rightfully do our part to help manage the waste (used lamps). At the same time, there isn’t much being done about it by society. Also in Malaysia, there is no regulation for mercury disposal and penalty isn’t imposed in the case of improper disposals.”

In June, the association obtained another grant from UNDP, this time amounting to US$30,000 (RM107,000). With that, the collection was expanded to cover fluorescent lamps. Between June and November, it collected 2,489 compact fluorescent lamps and 4,225 fluorescent lamps. Talks were also given to students to instil the right understanding and values among the young about the environment.

A large portion of the grant is used for transporting the lights to the Kualiti Alam disposal facility; it costs about RM1,000 per trip. The company, however, does not charge the association for the final disposal.

Chew says collection bins are not available in other states yet due to logistical challenges. The bins have to be delivered to a common point in the Klang Valley before they can be collected.

“What we hope to have is the support of shopping malls for our initiative, to allocate us some space for the bins so that shoppers can drop off the lamps. We have approached some but they weren’t keen.

“Eventually though, we hope the local authorities can take over this role of providing disposal solutions for the public, as councils are an easy drop-off point that people know of.”