A study of waste fluorescent lamp generation in mainland China

Fluorescent lamps (FLs) are already widely used, and demand for them can only be expected to increase, because of their energy-saving features. The potential health risk from the toxic mercury they contain, however, is receiving increasing public attention and concern. In this study, future quantities of FL production and consequent waste FL generation in China are predicted using the Extended Logistic Model and Modified Market Supply Method. The distribution of waste FLs generated are also evaluated for different regions in mainland China, for the years 2012, 2015 and 2020, based on anticipated lighting demands. The predicted yearly production of FLs could rise to about 12 billion units in 2020, while the quantity of waste FLs generated from domestic use would be about 6 billion units, yielding about 937,400 tonnes of waste. Guangdong is the top waste-FL-generating province, followed by Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang and Sichuan. The estimated annual quantity in Guangdong could reach 500 million units by 2020, accounting for approximately 8.63% of the total amount generated over all of mainland China. As for the areal densities of waste FL generation, Shanghai is predicted to have the highest-231,400 units per square kilometer, followed by Hunan, Beijing, Sichuan and Zhejiang. The quantity of waste aluminum caps and glass, and the potential mercury emissions, from waste FLs were evaluated as well. The results of this study are expected to help attain a better understanding of the issue of waste FL generation and distribution in mainland China, and to contribute to the development of policies and/or regulations on FL management and waste FL collection and treatment (or disposal) facilities.