Fluorescent Lamps
Overview & Applicability
Fluorescent lamps are significantly more cost-effective than incandescent lamps, and are widely used throughout most campuses. The light emitted by a fluorescent lamp is generated by mercury vapor contained within the lamp, so all fluorescent lamps contain a small amount of mercury (a few milligrams.) Mercury is considered to be a persistent bioaccumulative toxic material, meaning it will accumulate in the environment and has a toxic effect on living organisms.
It is a common misperception that "green tipped" or environmentally-friendly lamps do not contain mercury. While these lamps do contain less mercury and so are considered to be an environmentally preferable alternative, it is still strongly recommended that all spent fluorescent lamps be collected and recycled to prevent the release of mercury to the environment.
Definitions
Lamp (also referred to as “universal waste lamp”): the bulb or tube portion of an electric lighting device. A lamp is specifically designed to produce radiant energy, most often in the ultraviolet, visible, and infra-red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Examples of common universal waste electric lamps include, but are not limited to, fluorescent, high intensity discharge, neon, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps.
Large Quantity Handler of Universal Waste: a universal waste handler who accumulates 5,000 kilograms or more total of universal waste (batteries, pesticides, thermostats, or lamps, calculated collectively) at any time. This designation as a large quantity handler of universal waste is retained through the end of the calendar year in which 5,000 kilograms or more total of universal waste is accumulated.
Small Quantity Handler of Universal Waste: a universal waste handler who does not accumulate 5,000 kilograms or more total of universal waste (batteries, pesticides, thermostats, or lamps, calculated collectively) at any time.
Summary of Requirements
Small Quantity Handlers
- Do not dispose of used lamps in dumpsters. Collect spent (used) lamps in containers or packages that are structurally sound, adequate to prevent breakage, and compatible with the contents of the lamps.
- Keep containers and packages of spent lamps closed.
- Immediately clean up broken lamps and place them in a container that is closed, structurally sound and in good condition, and compatible with the contents of the lamps.
- Clearly mark or label containers of used lamps with one of the following phrases:
- “Universal Waste—Lamp(s)”
- “Waste Lamp(s)” or
- “Used Lamp(s)”
- Do not accumulate used lamps on site for more than 1 year from the date the lamps are first generated (e.g. are removed from the fixtures and considered "used"). If you must accumulate used lamps for longer than 1 year to facilitate disposal, you must maintain documentation to demonstrate why the longer accumulation is necessary.
- Maintain an inventory system to demonstrate how long used lamps are accumulated on site. The inventory system may consist of any of the following:
- mark or label each container with the earliest date that any used lamps were placed in the container
-
maintain an inventory system on-site that identifies the date each used lamp became a waste, or the earliest date that any used lamp in a group of lamps or containers became a waste
-
place the used lamps in a specific accumulation area and identify the earliest date that any lamps in the area became a waste.
Regulations
40 CFR Part 273 - Standards for Universal Waste Management
Other Resources
DOAS Contract for Fluorescent Lamp & Ballast Recycling
Last updated: February 6, 2006