Generally, the higher the power usage, the more mercury that is required to operate the lamp. Mercury-containing lamps include:
HID lamps, such as mercury vapour lamps used for street lighting, which contain between 50 and 1000 milligrams (mg) of mercury per lamp
linear fluorescent tubes, as used in most commercial and public buildings, which are required by an Australian standard to contain less than 15 mg of mercury per tube
CFLs used mostly in homes, which are required by an Australian Standard to have a maximum of 5 mg of mercury per bulb
some neon tubes, as used in signs.