Presentation Outline Which Light Bulbs Contain Mercury? Why is Mercury in Light Bulbs? Facts about Mercury Lamps Regulations (New State Law) Universal Waste Lamps Generator Responsibilities Proper Recycling The Solution End of Generator Liability Summary Questions End of Presentation
Which Light Bulbs Contain Mercury? All Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury! Even Green End Bulbs! (Straight Tubes, U shape, CFL s, ) All High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps (Mercury Vapor, Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium ) Many other specialty light bulbs also contain mercury (neon, projector lamps, high arc, UV lamps, etc.)
Why is mercury in Light Bulbs? Elemental Mercury is injected into All Fluorescent, HID and other specialty lamps to Produce Ultra Violet Light, NO MERCURY = NO LIGHT! Cathode Produces Heat To Vaporize MERCURY Seeable Light Ultra Violet Light Produced By Mercury Vapor Brass Pins Supply Electricity to Heat Cathode MERCURY Release Capsule Seeable Light Elemental MERCURY Phosphor Coating turns UV Light to Seeable Light
Facts about mercury lamps When Mercury light bulbs are not properly managed or disposed of in the trash, The mercury from these lamps ends up in our environment finding its way into our waterways and food chain.
Facts about mercury lamps The overexposure of mercury is detrimental to the health of humans and wildlife alike. The effects of mercury can create problems in the nervous system, brain, kidneys, and mental retardation in children, as well as being linked to autism among numerous other health issues.
Facts about mercury lamps It takes only one (1) gram of mercury to contaminate twenty (20) acres of water permanently. The smallest of the mercury containing light bulbs, the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL S) contain approximately 4 mg. of mercury. All other lamps contain more than 4 mg of mercury.
Facts about mercury lamps The proper recycling of only one hundred (100) CFL s can lead to the recovery of enough mercury to avoid contaminating approximately eight (8) acre of water. *Other mercury lamps will be more.
Regulations and State Law Mercury Product Disposal Control Act On April 30 th 2010 the Governor of Tennessee signed into law Public Chapter 840, known as the, Mercury Disposal Control Act This new law became fully effective January 1, 2011
Regulations and State Law Mercury Product Disposal Control Act Summary (11)(A) "Mercury added consumer product" means any material, device, or part of a device including, but not limited to, those materials, devices, or parts listed in subdivision (B): (i) Into which elemental mercury or mercury compounds are intentionally added during the formulation or manufacture of such material or device; and (ii) In which the continued presence of mercury is required to provide a specific characteristic, appearance or quality, or to perform a specific function;
Regulations and State Law Mercury Product Disposal Control Act Summary (B) "Mercury added consumer product" includes, but is not limited to: (i) Thermostats; (ii) Thermometers; (iii) Switches (whether individually or as part of another product); (iv) Medical or scientific instruments; (v) Electrical relays and other electrical devices; (vi) Lamps and light bulbs; and (vii) Batteries other than those defined as mercury containing excluded products;
Regulations and State Law Mercury Product Disposal Control Act Summary (4) "Covered generator" means any generator that: (A) Employs ten (10) or more employees; (B) Owns or maintains a building, excluding private residences, of at least three thousand (3,000) square feet; (C) Owns or maintains electrical distribution systems; (D) Owns or operates a business that demolishes buildings, excluding private residences; or (E) Owns or operates a tanning bed salon business;
Regulations and State Law Mercury Product Disposal Control Act Summary SECTION 5. (a) On or after January 1, 2011: (1) No covered generator shall dispose of a mercury added consumer product as non hazardous solid waste under Rule 1200 1 7; And (2) A covered generator shall ensure that its discarded mercury added consumer products are :
Regulations and State Law Mercury Product Disposal Control Act Summary (A) Shipped for recycling, treatment, or disposal to either a universal waste destination facility or a hazardous waste management facility that has been permitted to manage such materials by the federal Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") pursuant to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), by a state program that has been authorized by the EPA to implement the pertinent portions of RCRA in the state, or by a foreign government; and (B) Managed prior to receipt at such universal waste destination facility or hazardous waste management facility in accordance with, as applicable, either: (i) The hazardous waste management requirements of Rules 1200 1 11.03 through 1200 1 11.07; or (ii) The universal waste management requirements of Rule 1200 1 11.11.
Universal Waste Lamps Generators Responsibilities Rule 1200 1 11.11 A covered generator of universal waste lamps must contain any lamp in containers or packages that are structurally sound, adequate to prevent breakage, and compatible with the contents of lamps. Such containers and packages must remain closed and lack evidence of leakage, spillage or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions.
Universal Waste Lamps Generators Responsibilities Rule 1200 1 11.11 Universal waste lamps containers or package in which such lamps are contained must be labeled or marked clearly with any one of the following phrases: Universal Waste Lamps or Waste Lamps or Used Lamps
Universal Waste Lamps Generators Responsibilities Employee Training 40 CFR 273.16 A Covered generator of universal waste lamps must inform all employees who handle or have responsibility for managing universal waste lamps, information describe proper handling and emergency procedures appropriate to the types of universal waste lamps handled at the facility.
Universal Waste Lamps Generators Responsibilities
Proper Recycling The Solution Southeast Recycling is a Permitted Universal Waste Destination Facility for The Proper Recycling of Lamps Containing Mercury.
Proper Recycling The Solution The proper recycling of lamps begins at the time Southeast obtains the lamps from the customer, and provides them with proper shipping and tracking documents. This tracking document follows the shipment all the way through processing, tracking the date and time received by Southeast down to the date and time the lamps are processed.
Proper Recycling The Solution Southeast utilizes a Dynex 3600 lamp processor to recycle and recover mercury lamps. This is a high tech processor that is totally enclosed and operates under a negative vacuum, preventing mercury vapors from escaping. The lamps of each customer are fed into the processor one tracking order at a time. The date and time of process are then recorded.
Proper Recycling The Solution The lamps are crushed inside the processor and sorted by screening, air, and buffing into three separate by products; Glass, metals, and phosphor powder containing mercury. Metal End Caps Glass Phosphor Powder The by products then exit the processor in three different locations for further recycling.
Proper Recycling The Solution All By Products are 100% recovered and reused in production of new products. NOTHING IS LANDFILLED METAL ENDS METALS SENT TO SMELTERS FOR RECYCLING RECYLED METALS USED IN NEW PRODUCTS CRUSHED GLASS CRUSHED GLASS USED IN ASPHALT AND ROADS MERCURY POWDER POWDER IS RETORTED RECOVERING THE MERCURY 100% PURE RECOVERED MERCURY USED IN NEW PRODUCTS, LAMPS,SWITCHES, ETC.
Proper Recycling The Solution Southeast Recycling Makes Proper Recycling Easy For the Generator, By providing service throughout the state and the Southeastern USA. Southeast has warehouses and service centers located in Johnson City, Nashville, and Memphis, TN along with Kennesaw, GA to provide the Generators with quicker hands on service.
Proper Recycling The Solution Southeast also Has Turn Key Recycling Packages Via FedEx Ground Straight tubes and misc lamp packages CFL Package Packages Includes all Transportation, Container, Recycling, Tracking, Documentation, Certificates of Recycling For Each Package. Southeast has a proper recycling program for generators of all sizes, from the large Industrial, colleges, universities, counties, etc. to the small commercial and mom and pop generators
Proper Recycling End of Generator Liability Complete Recycling and Recovery of Lamps Along With Reuse of All By Products Ends Generator s Liability of HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL Southeast Recycling Provides Each Generator with Certificates Of Recycling Assuring them of Proper handling and Recycling Ending Their Liability
Summary 1. All Fluorescent and HID lamps contain mercury, regardless the shape, size or what color the ends are! 2. They are approximately 19,000,000 Million and growing mercury containing lamps used in Tennessee annually 3. If Not properly managed, handled, and recycled, this number of lamps could contaminate approximately 1,520,000 Million acres of Tennessee s water ways! 4. The overexposure of mercury is detrimental to the health of humans and wildlife alike.
Summary 5. As of January 1, 2011 State law Public Chapter 840 Prohibits The landfill disposal of mercury consumer products, requiring all Covered Generators to properly manage and handle their mercury lamps and products. 6. Southeast Recycling has the Solution by providing the Proper handling and recycling of all mercury containing lamps For All Covered Generators, large or small. 7. Southeast s complete recycling and recovery process ends the Generators liability along with putting them in compliance with the State law and EPA regulations.
Summary Southeast Recycling Technologies, Inc. Also Handles and Recycles The Following E WASTE, Batteries, Universal Waste Mercury Equipment, and Lighting Ballast QUESTIONS?
Southeast Recycling Technologies, Inc. Committed to our Environment. To Set Up a Proper Recycling Program For Your Waste Contact Us Anytime at: 1 800 592 3970 or 423 282 2022 Email: info@recyclebulbs.com Web Site: www.recyclebulbs.com END OF PRESENTATION