Recycling and Material Flow Analysis of End-of-Life Fluorescent Lamps in South Korea

Yong-Chul Jang (), Kyunghoon Choi, Youngsun Kwon, Hakyun Song and Hyunhee Kim
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Yong-Chul Jang: Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Kyunghoon Choi: Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Youngsun Kwon: Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Hakyun Song: Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Hyunhee Kim: Division of Waste Analysis, Daejeon Environmental Health Institute, Daejeon 34142, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Proper management and treatment of end-of-life fluorescent lamps with a toxic metal of mercury has attracted critical concern in the solid waste community. In this study, material flow analysis (MFA) and substance flow of mercury were performed on the lamps by life cycle in South Korea. It was found that, in 2020, approximately 2957 tons (or 27.9 million units) of end-of-life fluorescent lamps from households were collected and recycled by the recycling facilities in South Korea. Approximately 278 kg of mercury was recovered from the lamps and treated at the hazardous incineration facilities. Based on the results of dynamic flow analysis, the amount of fluorescent lamps to be retried is expected to continually decrease to be about 14.2 million units, which is estimated to be 23 kg of mercury. However, continued collection efforts on end-of-life fluorescent lamps owing to increasing demands for light-emitting diode lamps should be made from the perspectives of proper treatment of mercury as well as resource recovery. More detailed studies on other mercury-containing lamps (e.g., metal halogen lamps, high-pressure mercury lamps, and high-pressure sodium lamps) are warranted to determine mercury flows in waste streams for proper collection and treatment upon disposal.

Keywords: fluorescent lamp; mercury; MFA; EPR; LED lamp (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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