You can get rid of a lava lamp without resorting to harsh chemicals. If the mechanism is still working, simply rinse it with water.
However, if the lamp isn’t functioning correctly, it has probably burnt out. In this case, you have several options.
Let’s find out now.
How to Properly Dispose of a Lava Lamp
Contents
Throw Away Responsibly
Depending on the material, this means tossing it in the garbage or putting it in recycling bags for curbside pickup.
For additional information on the disposal methods, you can contact your local recycling facility.
If Possible, Recycle It
If you can, return your lava lamp to the company that made it so it can be thrown away properly or used again.
They will be able to precisely establish what the product is made of and what you should do with it. Also, some manufacturers will give incentives or discounts for recycling their products.
Dispose of Debris
Fill a pillowcase or a plastic grocery bag with pieces of broken glass and throw them away safely in the trash or recycling bin.
This should be firmly sealed so that no liquid can escape and cause a mess when you dispose of it in the trash.
Now, dispose of these objects in a discreet and eco-friendly way.
Make sure you properly wrap it in newspaper to avoid spilling the liquid and damaging any surfaces nearby when you throw it away.
Clean the Lamp
Wipe off any extra residue left on your glass surface with a damp sponge and dry it completely before disposing of it in your trash bin.
After that, give it one more rinse before putting it in the trash so you do not accidentally contaminate the environment with chemicals from the cleaning product you used on it.
Replace the glass on top of an old bottle instead of buying new bulbs and waste material when disposing of the lamp as a whole.
Check that it is working properly before you throw it in the trash bin and avoid contaminating the environment by throwing away a lamp that is not working correctly.
Remove the Wax
Do this slowly and carefully to avoid unnecessary breakages.
Before discarding the lamp, place a garbage bag under the wax bowl to catch any spillage.
Lava Lamp Disassembly
Turn off any fans or air conditioners near the lamp so that nothing breaks while you take it apart.
Then, break open the tab on the base of the bulb and remove the bulb from its socket.
You may break it open using your fingers or a small screwdriver if necessary.
When doing this, take care not to get burned by the hot light bulb.
Pour the wax into a plastic bag and seal it well so that it doesn’t spill out by accident.
Unplug the Lava Lamp or Turn It Off
When dealing with glass and fire, you don’t want to take any risks.
Before commencing disposal, make extra sure the lamp is switched off and unplugged to avoid the risk of electric shock.
Then, place a towel under your work area to avoid damaging any surfaces.
You should not dispose of a lava lamp as a whole.
When throwing things away, you can throw away the broken pieces separately so you don’t pollute landfills.
Set Up Your Workspace
To protect your surfaces, spread a clean towel underneath your work area and place the lamp on top of it with the bulb facing up and the socket downwards.
Put on rubber gloves to protect you from any potential spills of hot wax when opening the wax container.
Set all of the parts where they are easy to reach, and then take the lid off of the wax container.
Remove the spring and cap after removing the screw from the cap.
Clean Your Hands
To keep from accidentally poisoning yourself, wash your hands well after handling broken glass and set the opened container on the table.
If you have cuts, scrapes, or scratches on your hands, cover them with bandages before applying any kind of chemical to the glass surface of your lava lamp.
Do not touch your eyes at this stage, as this may cause you to accidentally get contaminated by the broken glass fragments, which are very sharp and may cut your skin and cause serious injury to your eyes.
Stop using the glass right away if you see any signs of burning or discoloration on the surface. The glass may have broken because it got too hot from being near a fire.
Can a Lava Lamp Be Reused?
You may be able to keep using your old lava lamp if you spot no cracks or damage on the glass surface of the lamp.
If it is actually broken, you can’t simply reuse it, but you can recycle it instead.
You may, however, reuse pieces of a broken lava lamp, such as the metal base and the plastic base, which are both made of recyclable materials.
If you have two damaged lava lamps, you may also combine their parts to make a new and improved version of the original one.
The majority of recycled items end up in landfills where they will decompose over time and release toxic fumes into the environment, which can contaminate the air we breathe and contribute to global warming and other harmful climate change.
Otherwise, the lava lamp’s plastic base is recyclable, so you may choose to recycle the base instead of throwing it out in the trash.
Once it’s been cleaned well, you can put it in the recycling bin with other plastics in your area.
Where Can I Dispose of a Lava Lamp?
A lava lamp may no longer work after a certain time, but the parts of the lamp are still very useful.
So, you may want to donate them to a thrift shop or to a non-profit organization for people in need, who may find them very useful for arts and crafts projects.
The first option is preferable to dumping it in the trash bin, as it will be put to good use and not go to waste, while the trash bin will only contribute to the growing problem of pollution in the country.
The second option is to disassemble the lamp completely and separate its parts for proper disposal to avoid contaminating the environment with toxic chemicals such as mercury and lead, which can be very harmful to our health and to the environment.
The third choice is to throw away the poisonous liquid in the bottle and fill it with something else, like water, that is not poisonous.
Is the Liquid in a Lava Lamp Toxic?
Oil and wax contain carcinogenic chemicals when exposed to heat and may release volatile organic compounds into the air.
It can put toxins and cancer-causing chemicals into the air we breathe, which can lead to cancer and other diseases.
However, you should not swallow a lava lamp, especially when the liquid inside is still hot, as the liquid may contain corrosive agents which can cause serious internal burns if swallowed.
Different lava lamp producers utilize different kinds of oils in their lamps, so it is a good idea to check the ingredients of the oil used in your lantern before using it again.
There are other chemicals in the bulbs, such as mercury and lead, which are toxic if inhaled or ingested.
So, the best way to get rid of a broken or damaged bulb is to take it apart and put the bulb and its pieces in the right place.
Wear gloves while touching an open lava lamp, as the residual oil can be sticky and may be absorbed by the skin, causing skin irritations and allergic reactions.
Also Read: How to Dispose of Lamp Oil
Final Words
It’s never a smart idea to toss a used or discarded lava lamp in the trash, as it can be very dangerous for the environment. It can release harmful toxins into the air we breathe.
Lava lamps are a great example of environmentally friendly technology because they can be used over and over again by just changing the liquid inside.
They include dangerous PCBs and mercury, which can pose a serious threat to the environment if disposed of improperly.
For safety reasons, it is advisable to disassemble the parts of a lamp before discarding them, and use the discarded parts for other purposes instead of tossing them in the trash bin where they may end up in landfills or the ocean, where they can pollute the water and be consumed by sea animals.
If you’re going to dispose of your lava lamp, make sure to do so in a way that will not cause any harm to the environment.
