Fluorescent Lamp Collection Program

How Does The Program Work?

1. Used and spent tubes should be returned to the Recycling area at Facilities Planning and Management in original cartons.
2. New lamps are to be picked up at the Central Stores building using the same procedure as in the past.
3. Any broken light bulbs must be cleaned up and placed in a plastic pail. The pail, along with the broken light bulb, are also to be returned to the Recycling area at FPM, to be dumped into a collection container.

Why Should We Participate?

The University has an opportunity to preserve the local environment that exists at EIU and within Coles County. According to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, all fluorescent and high - intensity discharge lamps contain mercury. RCRA (40 CFR 261) has identified unmanaged mercury to be a hazard to the environment.

The EPA has determined that 709 tons of mercury have been discarded into our landfill since 1989. In addition to the mercury, the fluorescent and high - intensity discharge lamps also contain other metals. The end-caps on the lamp are either aluminum or plastic, while the wires in the lamps (called electrodes) are made of tungsten, nickel, copper, and iron. The white coating (normally called phosphor) on the inside of a standard cool white fluorescent lamp is generally a calcium chlorofluorophosphate. Each fluorescent lamp contains a small amount of elemental mercury. The majority of larger lamps, such as 4-foot lamps, contain between 15 and 30 milligrams, while very small ones, including the popular compact fluorescent lamps contain about 10 milligrams. The arc tube contains a small amount of the inert gas argon.

Mercury waste management's alternative is to land fill the lamps. Consideration of any management method in managing mercury wastes should consider the full life cycle. Mercury will always exist in our local environment. The Fluorescent Lamp Collection Program was established to preserve our environment, to reuse metals, and extend the life of our landfill. Please participate in the FLC program

Who Established The Plan?

Focus Group members: Carol Strode, Allan Rathe, Bob Hill, Danny Cross, Terry Tomer, Carl Gilbert, and Gary Hanebrink have met and designed a program to manage EIU’s fluorescent and high - intensity discharge lamps.