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Fluorescent tubes and fluorescent bulbs are classified by the UK Government as waste that is always hazardous. Essentially, this means that if they are not disposed of in a safe and compliant way, fluorescent lighting tubes can be harmful to the environment, wildlife and to people.

In England, you have a legal ‘duty of care’ to make sure that hazardous waste produced or handled by your business is managed in a manner that will cause no harm or damage.

In this article, we look at what makes fluorescent lighting potentially hazardous and how you can safely dispose of fluorescent tubes and bulbs in Dorset or Somerset.

Safe fluorescent tube disposal near you in Dorset and Somerset

If you’re looking for safe fluorescent tubes disposal in Dorset or Somerset, Commercial Recycling can help. If you’re in Dorset, our specialist facility, Canford Recycling Centre, near Wimborne in Dorset, is fully licensed to accept hazardous waste. Should you or your business be near Shepton Mallet, our Somerset Recycling Centre in Evercreech is a wise choice for fluorescent tube disposal in Somerset. Each of our facilities is easy to use and authorised to accept waste fluorescent lighting. 

Commercial Recycling take all necessary precautions to ensure that the waste tubes we accept for disposal are safely stored prior to transportation to a specialist recycling facility.

Why does fluorescent tube disposal need to be conducted safely?

Certain components within fluorescent tubes pose a danger to people, animals, and the environment, this is because fluorescent tubes contain small amounts of mercury, also commonly known as quicksilver, which is highly toxic.

If fluorescent tubes are disposed of incorrectly, for example, if they are placed in mixed waste, mercury could be released into the atmosphere and contaminate wildlife or water, increasing the risk of mercury poisoning in humans.

Did you know… mercury is most commonly dissipated into the atmosphere when it’s incinerated

How can I safely dispose of fluorescent tubes in Dorset or Somerset?

As with all hazardous waste, fluorescent tubes must be stored, collected and treated in accordance with strict guidelines, to ensure that they don’t cause harm.

Commercial Recycling can help you dispose of all hazardous waste, but please note, our hazardous waste disposal service must be pre-booked before arrival on site. For guidance on what hazardous and difficult wastes are accepted at our recycling centres, please contact our expert team on 01202 331560.

We strongly recommend all customers requiring hazardous waste disposal first contact our head office, by calling 01202 331560, before visiting either site. This is because our Southwood site is not licensed to accept all types of difficult waste.

If you require us to, we can arrange to collect the fluorescent tubes or bulbs from your premises by providing a hazardous waste removal service. When collecting your hazardous waste, in most cases, we will provide a specialist lightweight ‘fluorescent tube coffin’ that can be filled to allow the hazardous waste to be transported safely.

To enquire about hazardous waste collections in Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset and Somerset please contact the team on: 01202 331560 or enquiries@commercialrecycling.co.uk.

How to safely dispose of a broken fluorescent tube

In the event of any breakage, it’s really important to limit the number of people who are exposed to a broken or damaged fluorescent tube. If you do accidentally break or damage a fluorescent tube in your business premises, doing the following can help to keep everyone safe:

• Ask anyone in the room to leave.
• Turn off the air conditioning or central heating system to prevent any toxins from spreading further.
• Open the window to air the room.
• Transfer fragments of the broken tube into a disposable container; be careful not to touch the tube directly, use cardboard or paper to move it instead.
• Collect smaller shards with sticky tape.
• Avoid using a vacuum cleaner as the mercury powder can be spread the next time you hoover.

If you have a broken fluorescent tube that you need to dispose of, contact the Commercial Recycling team on 01202 331560, we are happy to advise on what you need to do to dispose of broken fluorescent tubes safely.

Fluorescent tube disposal for commercial contractors in Dorset and Somerset

If you are a commercial contractor that requires frequent fluorescent tube disposal in Dorset or Somerset, call our sales team on 01202 331560 to find out about the discounts we offer to tradespeople and contractors.

Hazardous waste advice and additional information

Our hazardous waste experts, onsite at Canford Recycling Centre, are able to provide free advice about safely disposing of fluorescent tubes to businesses, tradespeople and individuals. Click to contact our hazardous waste experts today for further advice, by calling 01202 331560 or email enquiries@commercialrecycling.co.uk.

Motor oil is classed as a hazardous substance and therefore must be disposed of safely in accordance with the appropriate legislation. In this article, we illustrate a legal method to dispose of waste oil, which is both affordable and efficient. It also covers who to contact for free advice on motor oil disposal in Dorset.  

Why is motor oil hazardous?

Motor oil is hazardous due to the many contaminants that it picks up when it’s run through an engine such as lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, and benzene. These chemicals can be very harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.

Why should I dispose of motor oil properly?

In order to prevent waste motor oil ending up where it is not permitted or wanted it must be transported to a facility where it can be accepted and disposed of correctly. Depending on the local disposal site used, the waste oil will either be bulk stored and then transported to a specialist recycling centre for further treatment or it will be cleaned, refined and recycled onsite.

Did you know? If you are in possession of waste oil or materials contaminated with oils, it is your duty to take every step to ensure that the waste items are stored securely and transported safely and legally to a licensed disposal facility, such as Canford Recycling Centre.

How should I dispose of motor oil correctly?

Firstly, decant your unwanted motor oil into a suitable container, then get in touch with your local recycling centre to book in your disposal and/or collection service.

If you are in Dorset or Somerset, you can dispose of your waste oil through Commercial Recycling. For further information and contact details, please see our local recycling sites.

It’s important to remember what to do in the case of any spillages:

1. Always wear gloves when dealing with motor oil
2. Don’t use detergents or water when cleaning up motor oil spills because they can react with the hazardous substances
3. Use an old rag to clean up the spillage, then dispose of the contaminated rag at the recycling centre along with your motor oil

Did you know that just one litre of motor oil can contaminate a massive one million litres of water? Be sure to recycle properly to avoid harmful pollution.*

Motor oil disposal with Commercial Recycling

Due to the hazardous nature of motor oil, we do require you to pre-book a disposal slot, ideally 24-hours prior to visiting one of our local recycling centres. If you’re unable to transport your waste motor oil to our recycling centre, we can pick it up for you.

For collection and disposal prices, you can give our team a call on 01202 331560 or email us at hazwaste@commercialrecycling.co.uk.

*http://www.environment.gov.au/protection/publications/factsheet-why-we-should-recycle-used-motor-oil

Is your workplace looking to revamp its rest area(s), or maybe your trusty office fridge has finally reached the end of its life? If so, you’re likely to be asking yourself how to dispose of a fridge used at a business.

Below we answer some of the questions we are frequently asked around commercial fridge disposal, including how to dispose of workplace fridges correctly, what fines can be imposed for not following the legislation and where you can take your fridge for disposal.

Why should I dispose of my fridge correctly?

If your fridge is now unusable and donating or selling it isn’t an option, then disposing of the fridge is the only real remaining option.

Disposing of your redundant commercial fridge at a compliant recycling centre, such as Canford Recycling Centre, will ensure you receive the appropriate paperwork to show you have acted legally and in an environmentally responsible manner.

What happens if I don’t use a compliant commercial fridge disposal company?

As well as acting in an irresponsible manner that could damage the environment further, you are also risking a large fine!

Failure to comply with the Hazardous Waste Laws could leave you liable for a fine in excess of £5,000 not just to the company, but the directors as well.*

Did you know, regardless of whether or not you believe you are acting in the correct manner, as the waste producer it’s your responsibility to ensure that hazardous waste from your business is disposed of legally. Therefore if you can’t transport the commercial fridge yourself to a licensed facility, such as Canford Recycling Centre, you must use a certified waste carrier.

Commercial Recycling offers a compliant Hazardous waste collection service, see below for more information.

How do I know the company I am using for my commercial fridge disposal is compliant?

Any company that you employ to remove and dispose of your commercial fridge must have a waste carriers licence and the correct permits to be able to transport hazardous waste. In addition, they should also be able to provide or assist you to create the correct consignment note.

Don’t risk going with a provider who isn’t licensed! If you’re unsure, contact our hazardous waste team for further advice on 01202 331560.

Once I’ve disposed of my fridge, how is it recycled?

As a commercial fridge counts as a hazardous waste, there are some elements that cannot be recycled. However, at Canford Recycling Centre all domestic and commercial fridges are securely stored on-site and then transported in bulk to specialist facilities where each unit is carefully broken down to ensure all parts that can be safely reused are recovered and recycled.

Fridge parts and materials usually recycled include; oils, liquids, plastics & metals.  

Can you collect my fridge for me?

At Commercial Recycling we offer an affordable collection service for businesses who are unable to or do not wish to transport their waste fridge or freezer.

If you choose a pickup service from Commercial Recycling our friendly team will arrange a date and time to suit your business and will also ensure that all legal matters are taken care of, including the correct consignment note being completed.

You can read more about the steps that you will need to follow if you dispose of yourself, once you are at the centre here.

How much will it cost my business for commercial fridge disposal?

For the exact cost to dispose of your commercial fridge, it’s worth giving our team a call on 01202 331560. Alternatively, you can take a look at our disposal price list here.

Contact Commercial Recycling for your commercial fridge disposal!

If you need more information on how to dispose of a fridge or would like to arrange your commercial fridge disposal with Commercial Recycling, then please get in contact with our team by calling us on 01202 331560 or email enquiries@commercialrecycling.co.uk.

* https://www.recycling4you.co.uk

What is Asbestos

Asbestos is a fibrous silicate mineral, which was first used in commercial building in the 1800s and later became popular in house building during the 1980s. The material became desirable thanks to its physical properties including affordability, sound absorption, tensile strength and in particular, its resistance to fire, heat, and electricity. For these reasons, it was commonly used by manufacturers and builders and often mixed with cement or woven into fabrics.

In the UK and EU since 1999, the use of all asbestos in new construction projects has been banned due to the health risk the material poses to humans when its broken up or damaged.

Prior to being banned, asbestos was used in thousands of materials including roof tiles, ceilings, floor tiles and cement.

Importance of safe asbestos disposal

It is now known that all types of asbestos can cause serious health hazards to humans, with amosite and crocidolite being the highest risk. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious and fatal illness including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. Those at the particular harm of these illnesses include carpenters, builders, plumbers, electricians and asbestos disposal workers.

Exposure to asbestos in the form of fibers is always considered dangerous, therefore the handling and disposal of asbestos material must be taken with the utmost care. The demolition of buildings containing any amounts of asbestos pose particular problems and has to be deconstructed piece by piece or builders have to remove the asbestos before the structure can be knocked down by mechanical or explosive means. Once a building is demolished, the construction team then face the difficulty of transporting and disposing of the redundant material on an approved route using adapted vehicles.

How can you dispose of asbestos waste

Asbestos waste is classed as a hazardous waste material and therefore must be disposed of separately from other waste streams and handled with caution.

The simplest way to dispose of asbestos waste once it’s removed is to organise a collection service from a licensed waste management company. Our sister company, Avon Material Supplies offers roro (rollonoff) containers and enclosed skip services, which are all fully compliant with managing hazardous waste. Learn more about the collection services offered by AMS here >>

Alternatively, you can use a local, licensed disposal facility such as Canford Recycling Centre in Wimborne, Dorset. When disposing of any asbestos material using your own means, please be aware of the challenges involved in transporting asbestos, the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) you should use and the appropriate container for the waste.

The following steps must also be completed before transporting the asbestos waste to Canford Recycling Centre:

• All wastes must be sealed and double wrapped or bagged in 1000+ gauge plastic.
• A hazardous waste consignment note must be partially completed to enable it to be finished and signed off when the load is tipped. A member of our team can start this process once the load is pre-booked.

Asbestos disposal with Commercial Recycling

At Commercial Recycling, we offer a fully compliant asbestos disposal service and our specially trained staff ensure all of our practices follow the health and safety legalities. Disposal of asbestos with us is a simple and safe process and we only request that the waste is pre-booked in at least 24 hours in advance of tipping.

Although asbestos is a costly waste stream to dispose of due to its difficulty to handle and process, you will find our services are extremely competitively priced thanks to the use of our own facility and fleet of vehicles.

Visit Canford Recycling Centre

Our Canford Recycling Centre near Bournemouth and Poole offers an ideal location for contractors, businesses and tradesman to dispose of waste asbestos. The site is equipped for all customers and vehicles and we have long opening hours of Monday – Friday 7am-5:30pm and Saturday mornings 7am-12pm.

• Canford Recycling Centre, Magna Road, Wimborne, BH21 3BW
• T: 01202 331560

Please note asbestos waste disposed of at Canford Recycling Centre must be manually offloaded on site. Therefore we strongly recommend sheets of asbestos are individually wrapped and sealed bags of asbestos weigh no more than 25kg each.

Want to know more?

Contact our team on 01202 331560, opt 3 or email our sales manager, Stuart, on Stuart.Mariner@commercialrecycling.co.uk.

Pricing brochure >>

What are gas bottles?

Whilst there are many types of gas bottles, the general term covers any flammable hydrocarbon gas liquefied that is stored through pressurisation in a gas bottle or cylinder. Gas bottles have many uses to both individuals, contractors and businesses including heating, cooking and auto fuel.

Due to the potentially dangerous nature of these bottles, disposing of them requires the use of a professional, fully licensed disposal facility, which can ensure waste bottles and cylinders are correctly disposed of.

Where to dispose of old gas bottles?

At Commercial Recycling, our centres are fully licensed to handle more difficult waste streams such as gas canisters, cylinders and bottles. Our local recycling centres in Dorset and Somerset are fully equipped and open Monday to Friday, Canford Recycling Centre also opens on Saturday mornings.  

Recycling centres able to accept gas bottles:

Canford Recycling centre near Wimborne:

• Address: Magna Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3BW
• Tel: 01202 331560

Somerset Recycling Centre near Shepton Mallet

• Address: Evercreech, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6LX
• Tel: 01749 830889

If you have a larger amount of waste gas bottles that you are unable to transport yourself, we can provide a collection service, which can be organised on a one-off basis or as part of a scheduled hazardous waste management solution. Collections are completed by AMS using either their man and van service or an enclosed skip.

What gas bottles do you accept?

Our Canford and Somerset Recycling centres can accept gas cylinders that are full, partially full and empty; meaning we can handle any redundant bottles you have.

What is required for disposal of gas bottles?

If the gas bottle waste is coming from a commercial source such as a factory or office, a consignment note is required. This is a legal requirement related to how the hazardous waste item(s) is stored, transported and disposed of and must stay with the waste until it reaches its final destination.

Have any questions about gas bottle disposal?

Our expert team at Commercial Recycling can help! Give us a call on 01202 331560.

At Commercial Recycling we specialise in providing customers in Dorset and Somerset with affordable ways to dispose of various waste types of waste, including commercial, recyclable, hazardous and WEEE.

Not sure what WEEE waste is. Keeping reading…

What does WEEE stand for?

WEEE stands for waste electrical and electronic equipment, which essentially means any waste which uses batteries or plugs. You can read a full description here.

WEEE is likely to be found in most businesses and households, and with regular replacement likely to be required with these types of appliances, you should always consider how to legally and safely dispose of these waste types.

What are the most common types of WEEE waste?

Commercial WEEE waste types include;

• Air conditioning appliances
• Battery operated children’s toys
• Computers
• Medical devices
• Phones
• Smoke detectors
• Thermostats
• White goods

For further examples of WEEE please click here.

What are the regulations around WEEE?

Businesses and individuals have a duty of care to ensure that electrical waste is disposed of properly and safely. By not following waste regulations, you can receive a fine of up to £5000 and face prosecution.  

You can find out more about WEEE regulations here.

Did you know that every year an estimated 2 million tonnes of WEEE items are discarded by householders and companies in the UK.*

Where can I tip WEEE?

We accept WEEE waste at our recycling centres in Wimborne, Dorset and Evercreech, Somerset. We accept waste deliveries in lorries, vans, tippers and cars with trailers and our early opening hours mean you can drop by before work.

Dorset recycling facility:

• Canford Recycling Centre, Magna Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3BW
• Tel: 01202 331560

Somerset recycling facility:

• Southwood Trade Waste Recycling Centre, Evercreech, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6LX
• Tel: 01749 830889

Can I have WEEE collected?

Yes! If you can’t get to one of our recycling centres, we have collection services available to pick up and dispose of your electrical goods.

We can arrange collection of individual items (fridges, TV’s etc) or for larger amounts of waste we can provide a skip, skip bag or roro (rollonoff) container. If you need your WEEE waste collected, please get in touch with one of the team by calling 01202 331560 or by emailing us here.

*http://www.hse.gov.uk/waste/waste-electrical.htm