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220-1202 Practice Question: Moving to a new office and needs to dispose of…
A company is moving to a new office and needs to dispose of 200 fluorescent light tubes from the old ceiling fixtures. What is the legally required and environmentally responsible disposal method?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume 'recycling' means placing items in a standard bin, but CompTIA A+ 220-1202 tests the specific legal classification of fluorescent lamps as universal waste requiring a certified handler.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Contact a certified universal waste recycler to pick them up.
Fluorescent light tubes contain mercury, a hazardous substance, so they are classified as universal waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Option B is correct because certified universal waste recyclers are legally authorized to handle, transport, and recycle mercury-containing lamps, ensuring environmental compliance and safety.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Break them into small pieces and place them in a sealed bag in the trash.
Why it's wrong here
Breaking fluorescent tubes releases highly toxic mercury vapor, posing immediate health risks through inhalation. Furthermore, disposing of mercury-containing waste in regular trash is illegal under federal and state environmental regulations, as it contaminates landfills and groundwater, leading to significant environmental damage and potential fines for non-compliance.
- ✓
Contact a certified universal waste recycler to pick them up.
Why this is correct
Contacting a certified universal waste recycler is the correct procedure because these facilities are specifically licensed and equipped to safely process mercury-containing lamps. They employ specialized techniques to capture mercury, separate glass and metal components, and ensure proper containment and recycling, thereby preventing environmental contamination and ensuring compliance with hazardous waste disposal regulations.
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Place them in the regular recycling bin for glass.
Why it's wrong here
Placing fluorescent tubes in regular glass recycling bins is inappropriate and harmful because standard glass recycling facilities are not equipped to handle mercury contamination. The mercury would contaminate the entire batch of recyclable glass, rendering it unusable, and could be released into the environment through the recycling process's wastewater or air emissions, creating a significant environmental hazard.
- ✗
Burn them in an industrial incinerator.
Why it's wrong here
Incinerating fluorescent tubes is an environmentally destructive method of disposal. The high temperatures in an industrial incinerator would vaporize the mercury contained within the tubes, releasing it directly into the atmosphere as a toxic gas. This airborne mercury contributes to severe air pollution, acid rain, and bioaccumulation in ecosystems, posing long-term health risks to humans and wildlife.
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