Mercury Lamp Recycling Program

Silver Spring, MD - The United States Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a grant to a partnership of the Solid Waste Association of North America, the Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers, and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. These organizations are joining forces to form a Business Lamp Recycling Outreach Program.

"The national recycling rate is very low, just about 20%", according to Paul Abernathy, Executive Director of the ALMR and director of this project. "We believe the low recycling rate is because most people are not aware many lamps contain mercury or that they have a responsibility to keep this mercury out of the environment", said Abernathy.

This new project will increase awareness of proper recycling methods of lamps containing mercury in compliance with the Federal Universal Waste Rules and State-specific policies.