Your mother might have gifted you a lamp several years ago. But now, you may not have much use for it and you may be wondering what you have to do. You can’t just let it sit there and gather dust, which is why you must do something about it!
If you are updating things around the house, your lighting fixtures should be a priority. That means that you will have to get rid of your old lamps to install new lighting. Disposing of your old lamps isn’t as easy as people think. Lamps can contain hazardous materials that you need to dispose properly of. You cannot just throw the lamp in the trash because you might end up hurting somebody. The mercury in these lamps can harm fish and humans. We can experience great damage to our lungs, kidneys, and brain if exposed to mercury. Moreover, if we end up consuming mercury through fish or shellfish, there may be cases of development problems in babies.
According to law, lamps are a universal waste, and that this is why most states require you to recycle them rather than dispose of them.
How to Recycle Old Lamps
Recycling your old lamps is not very easy. These old lamps are made of different bases that can be hazardous in addition to the bulb. This makes it harder for users to recycle their lamps. You can go to your local center or ask an electrician in Vancouver bc to help you with the recycling. If your lamps are made out of ceramic, it will be harder to break them down, and you might have to contact a pottery studio. They might be able to smelt it down and make sure that it is made into something else. However, if you have a glass base, you won’t face any difficulty looking for a facility to melt it down.
No matter which facility you take your lamp to, they will not accept it unless you take down the wiring. It can be tricky to take down the wiring, so you must let an experienced electrician help you.
Can You Reuse Them?
If you find that recycling your old lamp is too much of a hassle, you can reuse them. You can change the wiring or the lampshade and revamp your old lamp to fit the aesthetic of your home. If you have a floor lamp, you can easily revamp it by changing a few things. However, if you are completely tired of the lamp and cannot stand its sight, you can consider giving it away to someone in need. Many people who move into new homes do not have lights and can really use your old lamp. You can ask around in your circle if anyone is looking for it, or you can simply go down to a thrift store and sell it. Giving it away in throwaway prices might be the best solution for your lamp problems.
You should also consider checking the Kind of Bulb Your Lamp has. It would be best if you disposed of different bulbs differently. Here is how you can dispose of different kinds of bulbs:
LED Lights
LED lights don’t really have harmful substances and usually live long. Check if the light in your LED lamp is still working, and you can ask your electrician Vancouver to help you make use of it elsewhere. If not, you can easily dispose of them in your household waste. You need to make sure you read the disposal rules limited to the maker of your LED lights.
Halogen Lights
Most people think that they can dispose of halogen lamps and the rest of the glass, but that doesn’t always work. This is why disposing of it with the rest of the household waste would be a wise choice. The wires inside these lamps are too fine, and you cannot extract them easily.
Incandescent Lights
Most lamps have incandescent bulbs, and you can dispose of these bulbs in your household waste. They too, do not belong in the glass waste as the wiring extraction is too difficult. These bulbs are too difficult to recycle which is why it is best to get rid of them.
If you are having difficulties figuring out what to do with the lamps you have at home, you can contact an electrician Vancouver, and they might be able to help you learn the best disposal techniques for your exclusive lamp. What’s more, they can also help you install the new lighting without much hassle. Acquiring an expert’s help with the installation of your lighting would be a wise idea, as they know just what to do. They will help you ensure that all the lightings are functional and installed without any errors.