In the event you use fluorescent light bulbs, there will come a time for you to retire them. Perceive the importance of fluorescent lamp recycling will allow you to to make sound, maintainable choices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and basically anyplace you set your ecological footprint.
Relating to lighting up your house and office, fluorescent lamps are the really useful alternative for its superior efficiency. While a typical incandescent bulb lasts between 750 to 1,000 hours earlier than burning out, a fluorescent bulb can easily final 10 to 15 instances longer and only devour one-quarter to one-third of the energy. In response to the Environmental Safety Company, fluorescent lamps are four to 6 occasions more efficient than their incandescent counterparts. They reduce “the demand for electricity, which in flip reduces mercury and green house gas (GHG) emissions from utility boilers, notably coal-fired boilers.”
The Importance of Fluorescent Lamp Recycling
Once your fluorescent bulb reached the end of its life cycle, it might be tempting so that you can discard it in your waste basket or recycling bin. Nonetheless, fluorescent tubes comprise a small quantity of mercury that warrant correct handling to mitigate any real hazard to both you and the environment. As OSHA points out, improperly recycling your fluorescent light bulbs may cause harmful mercury exposure. The hazardous metal mercury can hurt unborn children, impair memory, cause skin irritation, and the list goes on.
Environmental Impacts
In addition to its adverse effects to human health, improper fluorescent light bulb recycling can threaten the atmosphere as well. If bulbs are damaged, burned, or landfilled, metals and other poisonous substances could be released into the environment. Mercury in the air might settle into soil and water our bodies, and through microbial exercise, be switchred to methylmercury. This dangerous element not only contaminates water supplies but also impacts fish and those who eat them.
Financial Impact: EPA Fines
The health and environmental hazards caused by improper fluorescent bulb disposal has incurred authorities actions. In line with SFGate, the Digital Waste Recycling Act has made it illegal for individuals to easily discard fluorescent lamps in the trash. In actual fact, companies that fail to take authorized precautions in the disposal process can face up to $25,000 per day per violation. While each state has its own manner of handling fluorescent lamp recycling, most have implement the federal Common Waste Rule (UWR), which defines the the vast majority of mercury-containing lamps as a hazardous waste. Because the EPA explains, “If you don’t test your mercury-containing lamps and prove them non-hazardous, it’s essential to assume they are hazardous waste and handle them accordingly.”
Proper Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Process
Because mercury will be harmful to human health, it is very important correctly eliminate fluorescent tubes. When gathering your used fluorescent light bulbs, the federal Universal Waste Rule (UWR) recommends you to store and bundle them in ways that can minimize lamp breakage. Do your research to search out the insurance policies governing recycling used fluorescent lamp and discover a drop-off location that accepts them.
