NEMA’s LampRecycle.org New, Improved
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently re-launched LampRecycle.org, a comprehensive site developed to provide a one-stop source of information about recycling lamps (the term used in the lighting industry to refer to all types of light bulbs).
NEMA and its member companies hope the revamped site will aid in raising awareness among consumers and businesses about energy efficient lighting and the importance of recycling mercury-containing lamps.
“Lighting manufacturers have long supported lamp recycling as the proper method of disposal to keep mercury from the waste stream,” said Jennifer Dolin, manager of sustainability and environmental affairs for OSRAM SYLVANIA.
“The NEMA Web site is now much easier to use, and we hope it will help individuals and businesses learn about the importance of lamp recycling and take the appropriate steps to recycle their used mercury-containing bulbs.”
As part of its efforts to raise awareness about lamp recycling, manufacturers will include labels to denote ways to learn more. Photo: LampRecycle.org
As part of its “fresh face,” the Earth911.com Recycling Search is featured on the site to provide users with easy access to local lamp recycling information.
“With benefits such as curtailing mercury pollution in our environment and reducing energy consumption by recycling, disposing of these products through the proper channels is a win-win for everyone,” said John Furman, CEO of Earth911.com
Even if you don’t live in a state like Massachusetts where recycling is mandated by law, ensuring these products do not reach the landfill is essential.
Not only do CFLs contain small amounts of mercury, but other fluorescent lamps and some high intensity discharge (HID) lamps contain the heavy metal as well. Recycling a mercury-containing lamp ensures that 99.98 percent of the mercury used in the lamp is recovered, according to Lamprecycle.org
Manufacturers also include the LampRecycle.org URL on the packaging of all mercury-containing lamps sold in the U.S. as part of a standard educational label.
The EPA estimates that ENERGY STAR CFL sales for 2007 totaled approximately 290 million bulbs – nearly double the sales in 2006 – and constituted almost 20 percent of the screw-base light bulb market in the U.S.
- (08/31/2009). "NEMA's LampRecycle.org Gets a Fresh Face" Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS126730+31-Aug-2009+PRN20090831.
- "LampRecycle.org" http://www.lamprecycle.org/index.shtml.
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The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Chuck
posted on October 15th, 2009 at 7:59 am
I love the energy savings of the new CFL’s. However their is a problem, no one will except the long tube ones I have in my shop and garage. So I have no choice but to break them up and hide them in the regular trash to be sent to a landfill.
Ron Standley
posted on October 21st, 2009 at 8:25 am
Check Earth911.org for locations that recycle fluorescent tubes. They’re easily overlooked in the listing because, for some reason, they’re greyed out. Mousing over them will indicate this is a link with further information. In my area apparently Ace Hardware takes them. We’ll test this over the weekend. I’ve been saving my dead tubes for some time expecting these to be added to the CFL category.
Anonymous
posted on November 5th, 2009 at 8:37 am
In Massachusetts, the Mercury Management Act was recently signed into law and prohibits the disposal of any product that contains mercury since May 1, 2008. All CFLs and fluorescent tubes contain mercury. Most municipalities have universal waste sheds where mercury-containing products that have reached the end of their useful lives can be safely collected for recycling. Indeed there are many hardware stores that will accept CFLs for recycling, and MassDEP has posted on its website a map of locations known to accept products containing mercury for recycling. It can be found here:
Whenever Chuck breaks up his long fluorescent tubes to sneak them into the trash he is breaking the law and exposing himself to a toxic metal that is known to impair brain function, immune system, nervous system, and other bodily functions. It is a bad idea.
Jennifer Berry
posted on November 18th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Hey Anonymous,
Thanks for the catch on that statement. I can see why the sentence could be read either way, but I was definitely shooting to say that Massachusetts does have mandatory recycling for these lamps. The text has been changed. Thank you!
Walt Reed
posted on December 18th, 2009 at 9:25 am
INFORMATION on CFL’s, etc. can be obtained at 800-435-2677.
They told me that HOME DEPOT stores take the LONG TUBE lamps, and they also take Christmas lights, etc.