Recycling Fluorescent Lamps: Why, How, and What Happens If You Dont! Presented by Tom Griffin.
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Transcript of Recycling Fluorescent Lamps: Why, How, and What Happens If You Dont! Presented by Tom Griffin.
Recycling Fluorescent Lamps:Why, How, and What Happens
If You Don’t!
Presented byTom Griffin
Sustainability & Green Program Development
Green Assessments Waste Stream Auditing Hazardous & Universal
Waste Management and Compliance
Environmental Management Systems & ISO14001
Staff Training & Consumer Education
LEED Advisory Services Green PR Services -
Program Participation, Recognition, & Awards
Voluntary Program Development & Management
Green Events Management & Staffing
Green Products & Technologies
Sustainability Consulting Services
My Background & Role Tom Griffin, Division Director
• Sustainability Programs• Green Assessments & Waste Audits• Voluntary Programs Development & Coordination• Regulatory Compliance for Air Cycle Corporation
» Fluorescent lamps contain mercury
Regulations protect the environment, protect workers, and protect your company.
Why Recycle Lamps?
What’s In A Lamp?
» Weights vary according to size, make, etc…
A typical T8 weighs approx. 3-4 lbs. Glass – 95-98% Aluminum, lead oxides, trace metals – 2-3% Phosphor – 1-2% Mercury - .002-.02% (3-20+mg)
What’s In A Lamp?
What is Mercury?» Liquid metal, useful in switches, gauges, thermometers and the like because it expands and contracts with changes in temperature and other variables.
• Lamps• Switches & Gages• Manometers• Barometers• Thermostats• Batteries• Thermometers• Dental Amalgams• Medications / Vaccines• Lab Chemicals• Bougie Tubes & Sphygmomanometers
Where is Mercury?
How Does Mercury Enterthe Environment?
How Does Mercury Enterthe Environment?
How Does Mercury Enterthe Environment?
How Does Mercury Enterthe Environment?
How Does Mercury Enterthe Environment?
» It is a neurotoxin» Elemental mercury» Direct prolonged exposures» Exposures by eating seafood» METHYLMERCURY
The Real “Dangers” of Mercury…
High exposures to mercury may cause:
Human Health Effects
• Trembling hands & numbness or tingling in their lips, tongues, fingers or toes
• Fatigue, joint pain & mental instability
• Speech, hearing problems
» Deposition in water» Anaerobic conditions» Accumulation in the food chain
MethylmercuryNeurotoxin
[CH3Hg]+
The Conversion to Methylmercury
Minamata Bay
The Mercury Life Cycle
• Nearly 530 million spent mercury containing lamps are put in trash each year
• Estimated that 2 - 4 tons mercury released annually from broken lamps
Health Impacts fromImproper Lamp Disposal
» Protect the environment» Protect people» Stay regulatory- compliant» Part of effective “green” program
If You Recycle Lamps…
» Negative impacts on environment, staff, and public
» Out of compliance – regulatory issues arise
» Poor message to staff and customers
If You Don’t…
How Do I Recycle Lamps?
» Drum-top crushing of lamps
» Mail-back shipping of intact lamps
» Bulk pickup of intact lamps
Options for Every Facility
• Convenient!• Great for small
quantities• Also recycle batteries,
ballasts, and e-waste
Prepaid shipping of intact lamps to a recycling facility for processing
Mail-Back Recycling
• Certified UN-compliant and ISTA® Transit Tested Certified
• Brown craft cardboard is 100% recyclable
VaporShield® is a specially treated box that contains mercury vapor and replaces the box and bag system, speeding the loading process.
VaporShield®
• Ships directly to permitted lamp recycling facilities
• Mercury and all lamp materials recovered
• Recycling certificates with weights
Mailing of Intact Lamps
Bulk Pickup of LampsPickup and transport of large quantities of intact lamps for recycling
• Recycle unlimited quantities of waste
• Flexible scheduling for recycling on as-needed basis
• Perfect for locations where lamp crushing not available
Drum-Top Lamp CrushingCrushing of spent lamps into a drum for pickup and shipment for recycling
• Most efficient lamp recycling method for large operations
• Storage, space, & handling benefits
• Improved environmental program
Fines
Bad PRHazards
Your Facility
Safe and efficient lamp recycling programs for any size facility!
Bulb Eater®
Bulk Pickup
EasyPak™
Your Facility
Fines
Bad PRHazards
Bulb Eater®
Bulk Pickup EasyPak™
Your Facility
www.AirCycle.com800.909.9709
How is it Recycled?
Lamp waste is shipped to permitted facilities to safely extract mercury and recycle ALL materials
How is it Recycled?
How is it Recycled?
Environmental Regulations & Lamp Recycling
What Happens If You Don’t?
$$ Fines $$
What Happens If You Don’t?» Negative impacts on
environment, staff, and public» Out of compliance –regulatory
issues arise» Poor message to staff and
customers» Fines
$$ Fines $$
Environmental Regulations& Lamp Recycling
» “Cradle to Grave”» Determination of HW» Treatment, Storage, & Disposal» Recordkeeping» Generator Status
Subtitle C: Hazardous Wastes40 CFR Parts 261-269
» Hazardous materials that can be recycled» Decreased recordkeeping & handling requirements
Subtitle C: Universal Wastes40 CFR Part 273
Universal Waste
Lamps to Be
Recycled
Lamps & ballasts Electronic wastes Batteries
Subtitle C: Universal Wastes40 CFR Part 273
Used oil, etc… Pesticides Mercury-containing
equipment
Universal Wastes
» Very little recordkeeping» Labeling is important» Generator responsible for seeing that
materials are “properly recycled!” » Otherwise…HAZARDOUS!
Intact Lamps Crushed Lamps (in 9 states)
Reduced regulatory requirements Generator status Handling, storage, and shipping
Lamp Disposal Options:
Universal Waste Recycling!
Crushed LampsUniversal Waste in 9 States
ColoradoFloridaIllinoisMarylandMontanaNew MexicoTennesseeTexasVirginia
EPA ID # not required No manifests required Labeled: “Universal Waste – Lamps
to be Recycled” Must be handled according to
manufacturer’s specifications Responsible for “proper recycling” Certain additional state requirements
Crushed Lamps: Universal
Crushed Lamps (allowed in 35 states)
Lots of Benefits RCRA hazardous waste
regulations apply Generator status Handling, storage, and shipping
Lamp Disposal Options:
Recycling As Hazardous
Crushed LampsHazardous Waste in 32 States
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasDelawareD.C.GeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMichigan
MississippiNebraskaNevadaNew JerseyNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaUtahWashingtonWisconsinWyoming
Generator status and requirements RCRA – Subtitle C /TSD-permitted facilities Shipping manifests often required EPA ID # often required Additional requirements for SQG and LQG Additional state requirements Recycling certificates
Crushed Lamps: Hazardous
Lamp Recycling OptionsDisposal / Waste Determination
• Hazardous Waste• Non-Hazardous Waste
• Low-Mercury Lamps• Possible benefits for generator status
Determination: The Case of Lamps
• Low-mercury lamps pass TCLP• TCLP Testing (0.2mg/l)• Landfill bans (0.025mg/l)
•Hazardous? Hazardous waste disposalSubtitle C-permitted facility…still must berecycled!
Crush and ship for recyclingMail or ship to recycle intactX Improper disposal
Environmental Regulations & Lamp Disposal Options
» Violations» Fines…$$» Worker exposure
to mercury» Bad PR
Improper Lamp DisposalLamp Disposal Options:
» Common Misconceptions…• Conditionally Exempt• Dilution is the Solution• Low Mercury Lamps
Lamp Disposal Options:
Improper Lamp Disposal
» Exposures to workers and the public
Lamp Disposal Options:
Improper Lamp Disposal
» Bad public relations…
Lamp Disposal Options:
U.S. EPA Files $111,199 Complaint Against College for Hazardous Waste Violations ….including improper management of spent lamps.
U.S. EPA Fines Iowa company $54,786 for hazardous waste violations including…improper labeling and management of spent lamps.
NYC fined for improper lamp disposal. U.S. EPA has reached an agreement with New York City requiring it to pay $50,000 in penalties and launch a comprehensive program to properly manage old light bulbs and computer monitors…... US EPA issues fines for
lamp disposal violations …has agreed to pay a $49,725 penalty and to voluntarily ensure that its approximately 75 stores throughout New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico remain in compliance with the requirements for the handling of spent light bulbs.
Improper Lamp Disposal
Presented byTom Griffin
Recycling Fluorescent Lamps:Why, How, and What Happens
If You Don’t!