According to Finnish law, all LED lamps and lamps containing mercury should be delivered to a collection point for recycling. There are more than 500 collection points in Finland. Starting on May, 2013 the majority of shops selling lamps will also be taking back used lamps from customers.
The nearest collection point can be found at www.kierratys.info.
From the collection points the lamps are transported to the recycling facility. There the lamps are crushed in a chemical solution which binds mercury. Mercury is transformed into a harmless mercury sulfide, a form in which mercury usually occurs in the nature.
Metal and glass are then being washed and screened. All components are being regularly analyzed for mercury. Only mercury sulfide ends up in the disposal.
Lamps consisting of different materials can be reused in a variety of ways. Metal and glass are usually re-used in glass wool and metal industries.
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Container used for collection and transportation of lamps. | Lamps are being fed into the crushing machine. | Separated glass is transported to glass container. |
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Lamp crushing machine. | Materials from separator are carried to different containers. | After transporting lamps the container is washed and prepared to be used again. |