ALMR News and Information

Napa Offers Recycling for Consumers

2011-03-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

The City of Napa California will begin offering free recycling for residential lamps through a creative arrangement with federal and local agencies and with the cooperation of selected retail stores and electric contractors. Napa has received a combination of federal stimulus funding, solid waste recycling fees and underwriting from PG&E, the energy utility, to manage a program for the next three years.

Retail stores and contractors in Napa that sell energy-efficient lighting are signing up with the City so they can allow their customers to bring in fluorescent lighting, both the tubes and CFLs, which will be packaged for shipment to an authorized lamp recycler. Contact your nearest store to see if they are participating.

The ALMR appreciates and endorses these programs because they make it convenient for consumers to turn in old light bulbs, which can release mercury if not properly handled. This approach also uses the existing infrastructure for end-of-life management and does not require more bureaucracy or higher costs for consumers.

The ALMR is a non-profit organization representing members of the lighting and mercury recycling industry, and serving as an educational and informational resource to government, business and the public. ALMR began in 1999 and in the U.S. its members recycle an estimated 85% of the mercury lamps that are currently being diverted from the municipal waste stream. A complete list of recyclers and additional information about lamp and mercury recycling can be found at www.almr.org.

Tennessee Lamp Recycling Law

2011-03-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

State Senate
State of Tennessee

Recycling group applauds Tennessee for enacting legislation protecting the environment by keeping harmful mercury out of landfills

Contact: Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-6336 or email: darlene.schlicher@capitol.tn.gov

(NASHVILLE, TN), August 11, 2010 – The Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers (ALMR) today applauded legislation sponsored by Senate Environment and Conservation Chairman Steve Southerland (R-Morristown) and State Representative David Hawk (R-Greeneville) to keep toxic mercury-added consumer products from being improperly disposed in landfills in Tennessee. The new law, Public Chapter 840, provides assistance through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for tanning bed facilities and large employers to recycle mercury containing products, which are predominantly fluorescent light bulbs.

“The ALMR applauds Tennessee for enacting this important law to keep harmful mercury out of the garbage and protect the environment,” said Paul Abernathy, Executive Director of the ALMR." The ALMR is a national organization that assists government and business with outreach and education for the promotion of mercury recovery from wastes. “We appreciate Senator Southerland and his colleagues’ efforts to help the business community become compliant and divert these wastes into recycling programs.”

“Improper management and disposal of these bulbs have been releasing mercury into the environment,” said Senator Southerland. “This causes hazardous contamination of land and waterways, which places our children’s future in danger.”

Health problems associated with mercury exposure include digestive, cardiovascular, nervous system and kidney-related illness. Experts maintain yearly usage of mercury containing lamps is in excess of one billion nationwide.

Other lighting products, besides fluorescent light bulbs, containing mercury includes high intensity discharge bulbs and projector lamps. In addition, the waste also includes many common materials like batteries, some electronic equipment, switches and thermostats. Abernathy said the legislation does not impose any hardship on businesses or the state government because there are already complete programs available through recycling facilities.

“All these items are easy to keep out of the environment by sending them to authorized recyclers. There are cost-effective recycling programs for business of all sizes” said Steve Barnett of Southeast Recycling Technologies, Inc. “Any costs for recycling light bulbs are very small compared to huge energy savings from using mercury bulbs in the first place” said Barnett, whose company services the entire state and southeast region.”

For more information see www.recyclebulbs.com or www.almr.org

Illinois Law Requires State Buildings to Recycle

2007-08-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich recently signed a bill that requires all state facilities in buildings greater than 1,000 square feet to recycle their fluorescent bulbs. It also requires that only Energy Star bulbs be purchased in the future.

North Carolina Requires More Comprehensive Lamp Recycling

2007-08-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

SENATE BILL 1256

PART XLII. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR A RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS (H.B. 838 – Harrison, Fisher)

SECTION 42. The Division of Waste Management and the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall jointly develop a proposal for a recycling program for fluorescent lamps. The program will be developed so as to ensure that substantially all of the mercury contained in fluorescent lamps will be recovered so as to facilitate a phase‑out of incandescent lamps without damage to public health and the environment from the increased use of mercury lamps as replacements for fluorescent lamps. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall report its findings and recommendations, including legislative proposals and cost estimates, to the Environmental Review Commission on or before March 1, 2008

Drum-Top Crushing Criteria Available

2007-05-07T12:46:00.000-07:00

Drum Top Crushing is a widespread practice that remains surrounded by confusion. Some states don’t allow it and those that do have a mixed set of policies that don’t assure the safe use of the technology or guarantee recycling. Seeking clarity and uniformity, the ALMR has presented EPA and all the States with a set of Guidance Criteria, or Best Management Practices to improve peoples understanding and management of the practice.

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New PSA's Available

2007-02-26T15:10:00.000-08:00

Two new Public Service Announcements are available.

Public Service Announcement #1
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Public Service Announcement #2
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One-Hour Training Module Available Now

2007-02-20T20:48:00.000-08:00

The One-Hour Training Module for Universal Waste Generators and Handlers is now available here and on the ALMR.org website. Please take a moment to download.

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Massachusetts Requires Lamp Recycling

2006-07-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

Massachusetts became the ninth state to require that all spent mercury lamps be recycled The new law is more stringent than the EPA policy and requires lamp manufacturers to promote recycling through education. Please visit http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw06/sl060190.htm