In the spotlight: Mercury containing lamps

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Waste Age

OSTI ID:524727

O`Connell, K A

This spring, under pressure from Congress, the US EPA agreed to release a long-awaited study on mercury pollution by the end of the year. The study is expected to shed light on the debate over whether mercury-containing lamps should be recycled--or whether they can be landfilled or incinerated. The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act mandated that EPA complete a study of mercury and submit it to Congress by November 1994. EPA completed the 1,700-page report in 1995, but, instead of submitting the study to Congress, the agency sent the report to the science Advisory Board for review because new studies on mercury were expected to require revisions to the report. The concurrent resolution outlines three actions EPA should take: (1) immediately release to Congress the study of mercury; (2) initiate a pilot program for landfill air emission tests for mercury in the northeast and nationally; and (3) not exempt mercury-containing lamps from hazardous waste regulations, but instead include mercury in universal waste rules that foster mercury recycling.

• OSTI ID: 524727
• Journal Information: Waste Age, Journal Name: Waste Age Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 28; ISSN WAGEAE; ISSN 0043-1001
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CLEAN AIR ACTS
COMPLIANCE
LIGHT BULBS
MERCURY
WASTE MANAGEMENT