The Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers, along with the Solid Waste Association of North America and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association announced the release of an educational CD promoting the recycling of mercury-containing lamps.
The CD is a product of the Lamp Recycling Outreach Project, a cooperative agreement between the ALMR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and funded by the EPA. Under this grant, ALMR, NEMA, and SWANA have collaborated to assist business and local governments with diversion programs to keep mercury-containing lamps out of municipal waste and mercury out of the environment.
"The national recycling rate is very low, just about 24 percent," according to Paul Abernathy, executive director of the ALMR and director of the project. "We believe the low recycling rate is because most people are not aware many lamps contain toxic levels of mercury or that they have a responsibility to keep this mercury out of the environment."
"SWANA is very pleased with the outcome of this project," says John H. Skinner, Ph.D., SWANA's Executive Director and CEO. "Promoting the recycling of mercury lamps is just one way to advance the practice of economically and environmentally sound solid waste management."
NEMA President Malcolm O'Hagan notes that the project is "an excellent example of manufacturers, recyclers, and local governments working cooperatively to improve the environment. It will benefit all of us."
The CD-ROM contains:
1. A short video overview of the mercury lighting and recycling issues;
2. Specific information targeted at many groups that handle mercury lamps, including business owners, state governments, electrical distributors, environmental organizations, and solid waste professionals;
3. Contact information for each state's primary regulatory agency;
4. State-by-state recycling resources, guidance, etc.;
5. A state-by-state comparison of stringency policies and federal regulations; and
6. A comprehensive list of recyclers and recycling resources.
Copies of the CD-ROM are available on a limited basis at no cost by contacting ALMR, NEMA, or SWANA.
The main website for the outreach project is operated by NEMA at www.lamprecycle.org. Additional information about lamp recycling can be found at www.almr.org, or at the EPA's information page, www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/univwast/lamp.htm.
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