The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation have recently passed legislation that requires businesses, institutions, and universities with over 100 employees and/or dispose of more than 15 hazardous waste lamps per month to properly recycle lights containing mercury along with other hazardous products. This has been passed in an attempt to decrease the release of the mercury present in these products into the atmosphere. When flourescent and HID (high-intensity discharge) lamps are broken, incinerated, or buried in a landfill, mercury is released into the air, water, and soil.
Mercury Containing Lamps Mercury containing lamps are commonly found in stores, offices, vending machines, tanning beds, warehouses, factories, hotels, parking lots, and streetlights and are popular due to their energy efficiency. They save energy, reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases and lower energy production needs and costs. Studies have linked mercury exposure to increased risk of heart attack and neurological disorders. Improper disposal of these materials is against the law, leading to civil and criminal penalties. Businesses may be held responsible for damages of the contaminated waste site. Fines and citations are also given to those who do not comply. Some popular businesses have already been fined up to tens of thousands of dollars for improperly disposing of their lamps.
The Effects of Mercury Studies have linked mercury exposure to increased risk of heart attack and neurological disorders. The improper disposal of hazardous waste in the office may expose employees to unsafe mercury levels due to mismanaged waste lamps. LampTracker™ Products LampTracker™ is the original waste mail back program, is UN/DOT certified for safe transport of hazardous material, and is the only program approved safe for shipping by UPS. A Lamptracker™ Box only takes up 1 square foot of space for easy and safe storage. Each container includes an inner lamp box inside a bag and outer shipping box to help contain the hazardous waste released when bulbs are broken. We recover all the lamp residuals - mercury, glass, and aluminum - and also recycle the bags and boxes which make up the product. LampTracker™ products are the most efficient and safest containers on the market. TriGuard™ Containers TriGuard™ containers have a plastic bag surrounding the lamps which meets US EPA exposure standards. When broken lamps are not a concern, a plastic bag between the inner and outer boxes provides an economical alternative. Mercury VaporLok™ Mercury VaporLok™ contain a zip lock foil bag surrounding the light bulbs which are 75 times more effective in containing mercury vapor than any other recycling program alternative. This virtually eliminates mercury release which can prevent environmental release and human exposure in your office and during transport due to broken lamps. Mercury vapor can pass through cardboard and plastic, but not the foil. This is the first and only container that has been tested and proven effective in meeting UWR standards for containment of broken lamps and OSHA requirements for 8-hour mercury exposure.
At anytime you can go online for documentation of all containers ordered and recycled and a certificate will be emailed to you for filing to prove compliance. For your convenience there is an automated reordering option so you can go on with your business while we take care of your waste. Also ask a sale representative about programs we have for recycling ballasts, e-waste, and batteries. Call your Action Carting sales representative today to create a waste removal and recycling program that fits your business needs!
