What happens if I don't recycle?

National consumption of mercury-containing fluorescent and HID lamps exceeds 650 million annually. Their disposal results in over 28,000 pounds of mercury entering our environment. Spent lighting products are the second largest source of mercury contamination in our country's municipal solid waste system, and probably the easiest to eliminate.

Fluorescent and HID lamps contain a small quantity of mercury that can be harmful to the environment and to human health when improperly managed. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, aka Superfund), owners and operators of facilities disposing of hazardous substances may be held liable for response cost. Liability under CERCLA is broad, costly and can be retroactive. All generators may be liable for disposing of mercury containing lamps in a dumpster or local landfill. Disposal of mercury waste in an environmentally sound manner will help minimize the potential for environmental contamination and minimize the potential for liability.

Fluorescent and HID ballasts contain a small capacitor that may contain high concentrations of PCBs (greater than 90% pure PCBs or 900,000 PPM). The primary concern regarding the disposal of used fluorescent ballasts is the health risk associated with PCBs.

PCB ballasts are regulated under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) and CERCLA (also known as Superfund). Generators of PCB containing ballasts may incur Superfund liability for disposing of PCB ballasts in a dumpster or local landfill.

Lamp Recyclers, Inc. sends all PCB-containing ballasts to an approved facility for decommissioning. The capacitor is removed and shipped to an approved vendor for high-temperature incineration. The remaining raw materials such as copper and steel are returned back into the marketplace. Once the capacitor has been incinerated, a certificate will be issued releasing the generator of all liability.