EnviroTech - Flourescent Lamps and Ballasts Recycling

Lamp and Ballast Recycling made safe, easy and economical!

 

All fluorescent lamps contain small amounts of mercury, which is essential to the operation of the lamp. Fluorescent Lamps fall into the Universal Waste Rules for disposal.  Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that are more common and pose a lower risk to people and the environment than other hazardous wastes. Federal and state regulations identify universal wastes and provide simple rules for handling, recycling, and disposing of them.

 

Available throughout the Continental United States.

 

 

Spent Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Program

 

Through our cooperative service with the CleanLites  Recycling Facility, we are pleased to offer our closed loop fluorescent bulb recycling service. Once signed on, your facility becomes part of this closed loop process. When a full box of spent fluorescent bulbs are accumulated, simply call your EnviroTech representative to schedule pick up. (See generator requirements section for packaging and labeling instructions).

 

EnviroTech will transport your spent fluorescent bulbs to our permitted recycling facility. For each pick up you will be given a certificate of recycling covering the disposition of all bulbs removed from your location.

 

 

Who MUST recycle used fluorescent lamps?

Any location that generates 220 lbs. of hazardous waste in any given month is regulated as a generator of hazardous waste and MUST either recycle lamps or handle them as hazardous waste – they cannot be thrown away in the trash!  In other words, if you generate a regulated amount of hazardous waste, you are regulated as a generator and should recycle your lamps instead of handling them as hazardous waste.  The weight of the lamps managed as universal waste does not have to be counted toward one’s generation rate of hazardous waste.  Therefore, hazardous waste fees will not be owed to the State unless lamps are not recycled. 

 

Businesses that generate less than 220 lbs. per month are “exempt” from hazardous waste regulations; however, the State of Georgia Environmental Protection Division recommends recycling fluorescent lights as a proactive approach to environmental stewardship and from a legal aspect (liability associated with landfill disposal). 

 

Businesses that handle a large amount of lamps, ballasts, batteries and pesticides are regulated as “handlers” of Universal Waste.  If you accumulate more than ~350 4-foot lamps a month to make 220 lbs, assuming you generate no other hazardous waste at your location, you would be subject to the hazardous waste regulations and therefore the Universal Waste Rule.  

 

 

Why use our service?

It is important to note that universal wastes must go to a permitted recycling facility. EnviroTech transports universal waste to a dedicated recycling facility.

 

The Universal Waste Rule (UWR) eases the regulatory burden on businesses that generate these wastes.  The UWR allows companies to transport these wastes with a common carrier, instead of a hazardous waste transporter, and no longer requires companies to obtain a hazardous waste manifest.

 

We are able to offer our customers competitive pricing along with superior local service. Our location also offers our customers convenient auditing options with extensive knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations regarding environmental and recycling regulations. 

 

Customers outside the area of transportation are encouraged to use our mail-in service to recycle lamps, a service that is available throughout the U.S.  (Boxes are provided for lamps and buckets for batteries).

 

The Universal Waste Rule requires a bill of lading to accompany each shipment (unless sent thru a mail service).  EnviroTech provides all necessary documentation to satisfy the Federal Regulations concerning Universal Waste. 

 

A Certificate of Recycling is provided to the generator after the recycling process is complete. 

 

 

What about pricing?

EnviroTech offers competitive pricing for bulb and ballast recycling and disposal.  Prices vary depending on type and quantity of bulbs to be handled.

 

 

What about PCB Ballast Disposal?
PCB Ballasts collected by EnviroTech are transported to a PCB processing facility where the metals are separated for recycling.  The internal PCB capacitor is then segregated and sent to an incinerator.  No PCB's sent to EnviroTech are ever land filled.

 

Non-PCB Ballasts are separated from PCB Ballasts and sent for metals recycling.

 

 

What about broken fluorescent lamps?
EnviroTech can recycle lamps that have been accidentally broken as Universal Waste.  Containers must be sealed in order to prevent the release of mercury-containing residue and broken glass. 

 

 

What about crushed fluorescent lamps?
Crushing fluorescent lamps is not in the spirit of the Universal Waste Rule and is to be considered generation of hazardous waste.  Therefore, if you are a small or large quantity generator of hazardous waste, crushed lamps would be included with your hazardous waste tracking.  The EPA has noted that cleanup residue is likely to be quite different in form and composition from the original waste, so it may not meet the definition of Universal Waste.

 

EnviroTech can recycle crushed fluorescent lamps; however they may be handled as hazardous waste (the generator is required to determine if the residue is hazardous).

 

For more information contact your EnviroTech Salesperson at 770-506-8292