Lamp Recycling

LEAD and the environment

Lead has long been recognized as a harmful environmental pollutant. In late 1991, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services called lead the “number one environmental threat” to the health of children in the United States.

In 1998 EYE eliminated the lead solder on the base, and replaced it with an exclusive patented welded lock design. EYE also uses lead free glass for all EN lamps, making the product 100% lead free and environmentally friendly.    (PICTURES OF LEAD SOLDER WILL BE PROVIDED)

Mercury and the Environment

In its 1997 mercury study report to Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that mercury may pose a risk to some adults and wildlife populations that consume large amounts of fish that is contaminated by mercury.

Mercury is not released into the environment by operating a lamp. The only opportunity for mercury to release into the air is if the arc tube within the lamp is broken. This usually occurs when lamps are thrown in dumpsters or garbage trucks. Improperly disposing large quantities of lamps will add to the global mercury content in the environment. Burning hazardous wastes, or incineration of disposed materials can also release mercury into the environment.

The EPA’s goal is to raise the national recycling rate for lamps containing mercury from the current 20 percent recycling rate to 40 percent by 2005, and 80 percent by 2009. www.lamprecycle.org, sponsored by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), encourages the recycling of spent mercury-containing lamps and maintains a list of companies that recycle lamps.

Lamp Recycling

EYE Lighting International of North America promotes recycling as the preferred method of lamp disposal.

For a list of companies that recycle lamps regionally and nationally, visit www.lamprecycle.org.

EYE Environmentally friendly lamps (EN) can usually be disposed of without being recycled, however please check with your local laws first, which may be more strict than federal law. For a list of Hortilux EN lamps please go here.

Packaging Recycling

All Hortilux lamps are packaged in cardboard that can be recycled at recycling centers.

Note: EYE Lighting is not affiliated with any of the recycling companies at www.lamprecycle.org.

What Is The TCLP Test?

TCLP is one of the Federal EPA test methods that are used to characterize waste as either hazardous or non-hazardous for the purpose of disposal.

The TCLP analysis simulates landfill conditions. Over time, water and other liquids permeates through landfills. These liquids often react with the solid waste in the landfill, and may pose public and environmental health risks because of the contaminants it absorbs.

TCLP is an acronym for Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure and is performed by environmental testing labs.

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