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ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY UPDATE ARTICLES
HAZARDOUS LAMPS ADDED TO
UNIVERSAL WASTE PROGRAM BY EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) added hazardous waste lamps to the universal waste program. By adding them
to the universal waste rule, EPA hopes to promote better management of these
wastes by minimizing releases, encouraging recycling, and keeping the lamps out
of the municipal waste stream. Prior to this rule, many used lamps ---
especially fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps --- had to be
disposed of as hazardous waste because they frequently contain mercury, and
sometimes lead.
Included within the scope of the universal
waste rule are all waste lamps, which are hazardous because they exhibit the
characteristic of toxicity. Common types of electric lamps containing sufficient
concentrations of mercury (or other constituents, such as lead) that cause them
to be hazardous include, but are not limited to: fluorescent, high intensity
discharge, neon lamps, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, and metal halide
lamps. The final rule takes effect January 6, 2000.
(ISRI Digest - 8/27/99) |
