As you may be aware, over the past few years, federal, state and local regulations concerning spent lighting and electronic equipment have become increasingly complex, affecting a wide range of commercial and industrial businesses.
Much of today’s lighting and electronic equipment contains hazardous materials such as mercury, lead or PCBs. Concerns over releases into the air and water are driving stricter disposal regulations.
Your company may be at risk if you are not recycling.
RECYCLEPAK® makes recycling easy. The prepaid recycling program ensures complete compliance while reducing the risk of contamination by storing hazardous materials at your facility. When the container is full, simply ship it out, it's prepaid!
One price includes everything you need to begin recycling -- packaging, prepaid freight from your facility, processing and certificates of recycling. Best of all recycling is provided by the largest environmental services’ company in the world. This offers you the most liability protection!
Recycling is Cost-Effective
It costs little to recycle mercury containing lamps, but because the recovery value is minimal, generators still must pay for recycling. How much? Over the life cycle of a fluorescent lamp, it is estimated that the cost to recycle today is less than 1% of the total cost of ownership.
How is this possible?
The ongoing cost of maintaining the average lighting system is derived from:
- Material costs – the cost of the lamps;
- Energy costs – the cost of energy consumed to operate the lamps;
- Recycling costs – removal and disposal of spent lamps in a way that does not negatively impact the environment.
According to the Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook, 9th edition, the estimated costs to operate fluorescent lighting technology is as follows:
- Materials: 3%;
- Installation and maintenance: 10%;
- Energy consumption: 86%; and
- Recycling: 1%.
The 1% Factor
Even with recycling costs at 1%, some generators are hesitant to start recycling. We understand.
However, federal, state and local disposal regulations may require recycling and issue financial penalties to those infringing on the regulations. Some states have complete landfill bans.
On January 6, 2000, the Federal Environmental Protections Agency's regulation on spent fluorescent lamps took effect, requiring most businesses to recycle spent fluorescent lamps. Under CERCLA, there is no small quantity exemption from the liability for future site clean up if mercury contamination shows up at a disposal facility where mercury-containing lamps have been sent.
Recycling is in fact the easiest way and the cheapest way to avoid costly fines.
Environmentally responsible companies who put lamp recycling in their budgets can maintain energy- efficient lighting and still stay on the path to sustainability, while staying in compliance with federal, state and local disposal regulations.