Fluorescent Lamp Recycling

Fluorescents and high intensity discharge, or HID, lamps contain mercury, a potent nerve toxin. Most cannot be discarded in the trash in any of the NEWMOA member states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont). Mercury harms the brain, liver and kidneys and causes developmental disorders in children.

When lamps and other products containing mercury are placed in the trash, the mercury finds its way into our air, water, and soil. Mercury has become such an environmental problem that more than 40 states have issued advisories warning pregnant women and young children not to eat certain fish.

All mercury-containing lamps, regardless of the amount of mercury, should be handled as a hazardous ("universal") waste and stored carefully to avoid breakage.
Note: There are no non-mercury fluorescent or HID lamps available at this time. Green tip or low-mercury fluorescent lighting contains less mercury, but still SHOULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE TRASH.

Compact florescent light bulbs may be more efficient than incandescent lighting, but they contain toxic mercury. Terri Goldberg, Deputy Director of the Northeast Waste Management Officials Association, joins Bruce Gellerman of the radio program "Living on Earth" to talk about the environmental impact of fluorescents and the lack of regulations for recycling the bulbs. The interview can be found on the "Living on Earth" website.

See Mercury Use in Lighting [PDF] for a summary of the different types of mercury light bulbs and the amount of mercury that is used in them.

See the report, Review of Compact Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Initiatives in the U.S. and Internationally [PDF] for information about CFL collection and recycling initiatives in the U.S. and abroad. This Report was developed by NEWMOA under a contract with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) in 2009.

From 2002-2005, the EPA Office of Solid Waste funded NEWMOA to promote lamp recycling in the Region. NEWMOA's efforts focused on electrical distributors and commercial property managers. Use the links to the left or below to learn more about fluorescent lamp recycling and the tools developed under this project.

• State Requirements for Spent Lamp Management
• Identifying Lamps that Contain Mercury
• Lamp Recyclers in the Northeast
• Electrical Distributor Outreach
• Commercial Property Manager Outreach
• Other Outreach Materials/Resources