Mercury Lamp Disposal Training

Managing Waste Mercury Lamps

This training outlines the proper management, recycling, and transporting of waste mercury lamps including fluorescent tubes and many types of street lights. Promoting waste mercury lamp recycling is part of the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) larger effort to eliminate sources of mercury entering the environment in California.

Lighting accounts for 25% of the electricity used in most homes and businesses and mercury lamps are the one of the most energy efficient lighting sources available.

Mercury lamps use 75% less energy than incandescent lights (light bulbs) and last approximately ten times longer. Although they cost more than light bulbs, their lower energy usage and replacement rates offer a significant cost savings to California home and business owners. Dependable lighting also results in a better environment for your family or business associates. Even greater energy savings can be achieved with LED lighting.  LED lights are a lot more efficient than fluorescent lighting; the tubes do not break easily, they put out as much as 3 times the amount of light, they last a lot longer and do not contain hazardous mercury.  The cost of converting a fluorescent fixture to LED can pay for itself in a matter of months. Later pages in this training go into the advantages of LEDs over fluorescent lamps.

LED lamps are a better choice, however, if you have fluorescent lamps, these lamps do contain mercury and therefore their disposal requires special attention.

• Why Regulate Waste Mercury Lamps?
• Regulating Agencies
• Collection and Recycling
• Cleaning Up Broken Lamps

Following these guidelines will help you avoid hazardous waste law violations.

For questions about content, please contact the Regulatory Assistance Officers at (800) 72-TOXIC (800-728-6942) or go to the Regulatory Assistance Office web page.