The answer is to contact a certified universal waste recycler for pickup. Fluorescent light tubes are classified as universal waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) because they contain mercury, a toxic substance that poses environmental and health risks if broken or landfilled. This question tests your understanding of proper hazardous waste disposal procedures, a key objective in the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam’s environmental safety domain. A common trap is choosing to throw them in regular trash or recycling bins, which is illegal for mercury-containing lamps. Remember the memory tip: “Mercury means universal—call a recycler, don’t just toss it.” This ensures both legal compliance and environmental responsibility when disposing of fluorescent light tubes as hazardous waste.
220-1202 Environmental Awareness and Impact Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of environmental awareness and impact. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
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?
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.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 mercury vapor, which is toxic, and disposal in trash is illegal.
✓
Contact a certified universal waste recycler to pick them up.
Why this is correct
Universal waste recyclers are licensed to handle mercury-containing lamps and ensure safe recycling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Place them in the regular recycling bin for glass.
Why it's wrong here
Regular glass recycling facilities cannot handle mercury contamination; this can contaminate the entire batch.
✗
Burn them in an industrial incinerator.
Why it's wrong here
Incinerating fluorescent tubes releases mercury into the atmosphere, causing environmental harm.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume 'recycling' means placing items in a standard bin, but Cisco tests the specific legal classification of fluorescent lamps as universal waste requiring a certified handler.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under 40 CFR Part 273, fluorescent lamps are universal waste and must be sent to a recycler that uses a lamp crusher with mercury recovery or a thermal demercurization process. The mercury is distilled and reused in new products, while the glass and metal are recycled separately. A real-world scenario: a facility that improperly crushes lamps can face EPA fines up to $70,000 per day per violation.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Environmental Awareness and Impact — This question tests Environmental Awareness and Impact — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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