Help for a new year

Have you ever wondered what happens to Fluorescent lamps when they are no longer working? Recently I have been reviewing a number of sites about handling lamps that are at end of life. In lighting terms, they refer to these lamps as "Spent" lamps. Many of these lamps end up in landfills. Of course this is a problem with many items today that we consume and on a commercial level this is a huge problem. This year, I am going to be working on starting a lamp handling service in the Raleigh, NC area. My goal is to help make others aware of the dangers involved with Hg (Mercury) and the importance and benefit of recycling lamps.

Facts: About 22% of all lamp usage is by people who are not and may never be regulated under federal rules (e.g. residential and CESQGs). Therefore, of the 514 million lamps per year that are currently entering the solid waste stream and potentially releasing mercury into the environment, about 142 million are from residential, while 372 million are from businesses, government and institutions.
70.8% of the mercury-lamps used by business and 98% of the lamps used in homes are not being recycled. These lamps can and should be recycled! (Taken from Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers or almr.org study in 2004).

What are the Benefits of Recycling?*

* Keeps mercury containing products out of inappropriate waste disposal streams (especially incineration);
* Preferred disposal method in most states for mercury-containing lamps;
* Consistent with solid waste disposal bans and partial bans in some states;
* May limit user's superfund liability; and
* Simplifies enforcement


Lamp recycling is not self-supporting. Spent lamps have no intrinsic value or embodied energy. The recovered mercury has minimal value however the cost of recycling lamps is relatively small compared to the cost savings from using energy efficient lighting. Generally, fluorescent lamps are four to five times more efficient than incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent lamps reduce energy consumption which saves you money. Reducing energy use also cuts down on power plant emissions of mercury and other emissions that contribute to global climate change, acid rain and smog. (* From Lamp Recycle's site: http://www.lamprecycle.org)

If you are looking to help or are interested in supporting our goal for this upcoming year, I would love to hear from you.