Handling difficult materials: Fluorescent lamps

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Waste Age; (United States)

OSTI ID:7076193

White, K M

Fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, while energy-efficient lighting products, almost always contain small quantities of mercury, therefore, are considered a hazardous waste. As such, their disposal must be handled as a hazardous waste under provisions of the Toxicity Characteristic Rule issued under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Currently, however, EPA is seeking comments from industry and concerned parties on two disposal options for mercury-containing lamps, one of which would completely exempt the materials from regulation as a hazardous waste, provided they be disposed of in municipal solid waste landfills that meet Subtitle D requirements. The second option, in simple terms, would make mercury-containing lamps subject to the yet-to-be-approved '' universal waste rule,'' which would ease their Subtitle C transportation and handling requirements, but still require that the lamps be disposed of in hazardous waste landfills. Both options approve recycling of the materials as a viable disposal option. Some states are taking the lead and recycling the material. Although still a fledgling industry, the recycling of fluorescent lamps is a growing, and even competitive field.

• OSTI ID: 7076193
• Journal Information: Waste Age; (United States), Vol. 25:11; ISSN 0043-1001
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
FLUORESCENT LAMPS
RECYCLING
WASTE DISPOSAL
LEAD
RESOURCE RECOVERY ACTS
COMPLIANCE
ELEMENTS
LAWS
LIGHT BULBS
MANAGEMENT
METALS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
320305* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management
320604 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Municipal Waste Management- (1980-)