Fluorescent Lamp and Tube Recycling Services
Fluorescent Facts
Joining forces with the mass movement to clean up our environment, Precision Cooperative Purchasing is beginning and developing a recycling program in the state of NJ for all mercury containing lamps or bulbs. It is a little-known fact that beneath the glass casing, fluorescent lamps contain from 5 to 50 mg. of mercury, usually exceeding the EPA's regulatory 2mg./liter threshold. The mercury, excited by an electric current, produces ultraviolet energy which is converted to visible light by a phosphor coating on the inside of the bulb. When these lamps are thrown into landfills and shattered, or at the very worst incinerated, mercury vapors are released that can travel up to 200 miles. Last year an estimated 600,000,000 fluorescent bulbs were disposed of in landfills, amounting to about 30,000 pounds of mercury waste.
As most are aware, mercury is a highly toxic substance. Once absorbed, it is distributed via blood to all areas of the human body, wrecking havoc upon the nervous system and kidneys, among other areas. Its acute (immediate) effects include nausea, blurred vision, painful breathing, excessive salivation and pneumonitis, and its chronic (long-term) effects include memory disturbance, hypertension, vision problems, hallucinations, tremors and personality changes. In extreme cases, mercury poisoning has been shown to even cause death. Its effects are also of special concern to pregnant women as it crosses the placental barrier affects brain development. Several studies have linked mercury to cerebral palsy and the sudden prevalence of autism.
Due to the new Federal Environmental Protection Agency's regulation on lamps, which went into effect on January 6th, 2000, most non-residential facilities are now required by law to properly dispose of their lamps. Landfills are increasingly intolerant of lamps from non-residential sources due to the amount of mercury found in each lamp. Lamps later found in landfills are subject to retroactive clean-up costs under CERCLA. Recycling of the lamp components is the recommended method of disposal by the Environmental Protection Agency and helps to minimize facility liability.
Precision Abrasives & Tools, Inc.
Dba: Precision Cooperative Purchasing
41 Orchard Street, Ramsey, NJ 07446
tele: 201-962-7434 fax: 201-962-7437
email: josephp@precisionabrasives.com
Joseph N. Puro
Vice President
Precision Abrasives & Tools, Inc.
