Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Safety Assessment Practice Test

Which item can be a hazardous waste that requires specific disposal methods?

1. Scrap metal

2. Fluorescent light bulbs

3. Plastic bottles

4. Paper waste

The correct answer is: Fluorescent light bulbs

Fluorescent light bulbs are considered hazardous waste because they contain small amounts of mercury, a toxic substance that can pose significant health and environmental risks if not disposed of properly. When these bulbs break or are improperly discarded, mercury can be released into the environment, leading to contamination of soil and water. Therefore, specific disposal methods, such as recycling or taking them to designated hazardous waste facilities, are required to safely manage this risk. In contrast, while scrap metal, plastic bottles, and paper waste can be recycled or reused, they do not contain hazardous materials in the same way that fluorescent light bulbs do. Proper recycling processes can handle these materials without the same level of risk associated with toxic substances.