Massachusetts Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Regulations

Quick Facts

  • Due to mercury concerns, recycling fluorescent bulbs is required by law by the Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection
  • Lamp crushing is allowed by CESQG’s in Massachusetts. A permit is required for Small and Large Quantity Generators
  • Prepaid bulb recycling by mail is allowed in Massachusetts

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Recycling Options Available in Massachusetts

THE BULB EATER

Crushes fluorescent lamps of any size while removing mercury vapors. Reduces labor, recycling costs, and storage vs. packing lamps.

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EASYPAK RECYCLING CONTAINERS

Fill up containers with bulbs, ballasts, batteries, or e-waste at your own pace and mail back via prepaid shipping.

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BULK RECYCLING PICKUPS

For larger amounts of bulbs, ballasts, batteries, or e-waste. Trucks come pick up waste at your location for recycling.

Schedule a Pickup

 

Detailed Massachusetts Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Regulations

The stringency table below provides examples of state regulations compared to the EPA regulations. We strongly recommend that you discuss stringency with your primary state regulatory contact. This information should not be interpreted as definitive legal guidance. This document was produced in June 2004, and we do not guarantee its accuracy after that date, as state policies may change at any time.

("same" means the state policy is the same as the federal policy)

 

Jurisdiction: Federal EPA

Generator Exemption (CESQG): Generators producing less than 100 kg (220 pounds) of hazardous waste (HW) or 1 kg acute HW in each month, including all HW generated. CESQGs are exempt from federal rules, but not exempt from liability (40 CFR 261.5)

Where can waste from CESQG go? Waste may go to any Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (MSWLF)

Can the waste be declared non-hazardous, based on TCLP? Wastes that test less than 0.2mg/l soluble mercury are not considered hazardous under federal rules.

Other stringency or exemptions? Crushing can only be done by generator (40 CFR 262.34); crushed waste that is not UW- must be managed as RCRA HW. Crushing not allowed within federal UWR, but may be within State UW regulations. No one may crush third-party lamps without treatment authorization [1]. No mobile treatment units.

 

Jurisdiction: Massachusetts

Generator Exemption (CESQG): Requires CESQG's to register as "Very Small Quantity Generators"

Where can waste from CESQG go? Waste must go to RCRA Sub-C facility or state equivalent, or another generator

Can the waste be declared non-hazardous, based on TCLP? same

Other stringency or exemptions? Crushing allowed for CESQGs, small and large quantity generators require permit

 

State Regulatory Contacts

PRIMARY CONTACT

Lori Segall - Mercury Program Manager

Agency Address: Dept. of Environmental Proection, 1 Winter St., Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 654-6595

Email: lori.segall@state.ma.us

 

SECONDARY CONTACTS

Judy Shope - Recycling Policy Coordinator

Phone: (617) 292-5597

Area of Responsibility: Mercury policy and programs, Bureau of Waste Prevention

 

Tina Klein - Household Hazardous Waste Program Manager

Phone: (617) 292-5704

Area of Responsibility: Waste combustion companies, mercury reduction plans

 

Ruth Dinerman - Director of Communications

Phone: (413) 445-4556

Area of Responsibility: Will do outreach with LROP materials in western MA with local governments

 

Main Number

Phone: (617) 292-5500

 

Regulations

Phone: (617) 626-1000

 

Fluorescent Lamp Management Facts for Massachusetts Businesses and Institutions

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Using fluorescent lamps makes business and environmental sense because they consume one quarter as much electricity as incandescent lighting. At the same time, spent and broken fluorescent lamps need to be handled very carefully because they contain small amounts of mercury. Standard linear fluorescents, lamps with green end caps or green marking, compact fluorescents, high intensity discharge (HID), neon and high-pressure sodium lamps used in outdoor lighting all contain mercury.

The Mercury Management Act, enacted in 2006, prohibits all items that contain mercury, including low mercury fluorescent lamps, from being thrown in the trash effective May 1, 2008. As of this date, all mercury containing lamps must be recycled or managed as hazardous waste.

Why is mercury a problem?

Mercury is toxic to the human nervous system, kidneys, liver and immune system. When inhaled or ingested, it can cause a range of physical symptoms. Mercury that is released to the environment “bioaccumulates” in fish – that is, it builds up in their tissue over time – making them less healthful or even dangerous to eat. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has advised pregnant women, nursing mothers, women of child bearing age and children under 12 to avoid eating most freshwater fish from Massachusetts lakes, rivers and streams. DPH has also recommended that all Massachusetts residents avoid certain fish from those bodies of water where sampling has revealed a significant mercury problem.

When fluorescent lamps are broken, burned in a waste-to-energy plant, or buried in a landfill, mercury can be released into air. While air pollution equipment at waste-toenergy plants can capture over 90 percent of the mercury released at these facilities, the remainder is released into air, as is most of the mercury released by landfills and by bulbs that are broken in uncontrolled settings.

What are the risks of mercury exposure from handling lamps?

Mercury lamps only pose a hazard when they break. When they are handled properly to minimize breakage, there is little chance of mercury exposure. In fact, an active lamp recycling program can reduce the likelihood of an accidental mercury release by stressing the importance of handling lamps carefully.

Are there specific rules for handling spent and broken lamps?

To minimize the potential for mercury releases from broken fluorescent lamps, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) requires that all lamps be accumulated, stored, transported and disposed of as hazardous wastes, under the Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Management Act and the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Fluorescent lamps may be recycled under the streamlined provisions of the Universal Waste Rule (found at 310 CMR 30.1000), which MassDEP adopted to encourage the recycling of products with specific toxic or hazardous constituents. To recycle fluorescent lamps, you must:

• Store unbroken lamps in a box or fiber drum to prevent breakage, and keep that container in a secure, protected area. If possible the storage container should be closed between uses and stored in a ventilated area that is not consistently occupied, in case the lamps break during storage.

• Label the container Universal Waste – Spent Fluorescent Lamps and mark it with the date on which you first began storing the lamps. Fact Sheet: Fluorescent Lamp Management for Businesses & Institutions

• Have these lamps collected by, or delivered to, an authorized lamp recycler, hazardous waste transporter or another universal waste handler within one year of the date marked on the container. If you have broken bulbs, follow the guidance in the next section of this fact sheet.

What do I do if a lamp breaks?

Never use a vacuum cleaner, which will only disperse the mercury over a wider area. If a lamp breaks in the universal waste storage container, do not empty the container; rather, have the container collected by or delivered to an authorized waste handler as soon as possible. If a lamp breaks outside of the universal waste container, see specific cleanup guidance at: https://www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-mercury-information#dispose

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