Fluorescent Lamps
How do I properly recycle/dispose of fluorescent lamps and mercury?
Be extremely careful in the handling of both fluorescent lamps (they contain small quantities of mercury) and mercury.
Fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps in Mississippi are covered under the Universal Waste Rule of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Lamps generated by residential home owners are exempt from the law and lamps can be disposed of with residential garbage. Companies that generate less than 220 pounds/month of hazardous waste including the lamps are conditionally exempt from the law and may dispose of the lamps as normal solid waste. Small and large quantity generators of hazardous waste (220 to 2,200 pounds/month are small quantity generators and over 2,200 pounds/month are large quantity generators) must manage fluorescent and HID lamps as hazardous waste. It takes approximately 340 four foot lamps or about 183 eight foot lamps to total 220 pounds.
Whenever possible, attempt to recycle fluorescent lamps and mercury to prevent them from entering the landfill. The Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Program maintains a Fluorescent Lamp and Mercury Recycling Directory to assist businesses and industries as well as the general public in finding locations to recycle fluorescent lamps and mercury.
Mercury is extremely poisonous. Short-term or long-term exposures to mercury can lead to serious health problems, including death. Human exposure to mercury occurs primarily from breathing contaminated air. Mercury is also readily absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and through the skin. Even though symptoms do not appear, serious damage can be done to the human body. The effect on the body by mercury is cumulative and not readily reversible. Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean up a mercury spill. Children and pregnant women should not be exposed to mercury. In the case of a large mercury spill, all occupants should evacuate the area.
Mercury can often be found around the home and business in thermometers, thermostats, and fluorescent lamps. If there is an accidental release of mercury, there are safe practices that can be utilized while handling and disposing of small amounts (less than 1 teaspoon) of liquid mercury. If there is a larger spill of mercury, professional assistance will be needed to cleanup the material. Large spills of mercury can be life threatening and should be handled by professionals as quickly as possible to limit exposure.
Handling Mercury
If mercury escapes into the environment there are several things that should be done to ensure safety and proper cleanup. Remove all jewelry, especially gold because mercury readily combines with gold . Handle the mercury carefully. Wear rubber gloves and scoop the mercury onto a sheet of paper or suck it up with an eyedropper. Place the mercury in a medicine vial or similar airtight container. The scoop, paper or eyedropper should also be bagged and disposed properly. Ventilate the room to the outside and close off the rest of the home or building. Use fans for a minimum of one hour to speed the ventilation. Do not simply throw the mercury away. Seek information from Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality at (601) 961-5171 on the proper disposal of mercury.
Keep any objects containing mercury out of the reach of children. Children found to be playing with liquid mercury or broken fluorescent lamps should be referred to a physician or poison control center immediately. Mercury contaminated gold jewelry must be taken to a jeweler to have them professionally cleaned. While handling mercury, or any other hazardous substance, one should always wear protective gloves. If mercury comes in contact with the skin, wash the area(s) thoroughly and immediately with soap and warm water. A physician or the poison control center should be immediately contacted if it is believed that mercury has been absorbed through the skin or mercury vapor has been inhaled.
For more information on the Universal Waste Rule, click here on EPA – Universal Waste Rule or contact the Hazardous Waste Division at MDEQ at (601) 961-5171.
