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Goal I. Foster Proper Disposal of Mercury-Containing Devices
EPA is working to prevent improper disposal of devices containing mercury (such as fluorescent light bulbs and automotive switches) and reclaimed elemental mercury. EPA promotes removing mercury from mercury-containing devices before they are landfilled to prevent releases to air or groundwater. Once the mercury is removed from the devices, EPA is working to ensure that the mercury is properly managed so that it will not be released to land, water, or air. Projects that support this goal include the following:Table of Products That May Contain Mercury and Recommended Management Options
Lamp
Recycling Outreach Program
EPA has initiated a recycling
outreach program for mercury-containing lamps (e.g., fluorescent
light bulbs) to promote lamp recycling by commercial and industrial
users of mercury-containing lamps, and increase awareness of proper
disposal methods in compliance with federal and state universal
waste rules.
The National
Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program
EPA is part of a collaborative effort to prevent mercury releases from switches found in automobile convenience lighting and anti-lock brake systems. The automakers, vehicle dismantlers, scrap recyclers, steelmakers, environmental groups, the Environmental Council of the States, and EPA initiated a program in August 2006, known as the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP). The program will reduce mercury emitted from electric arc furnaces that consume scrap steel from recycled automobiles. Electric arc furnaces are the fourth largest source of mercury air emissions in the United States. The NVMSRP provides incentives for automobile dismantlers to remove mercury switches before the vehicle is crushed and sent to be recycled. The mercury from the switches that are collected will also be recycled. The NVMSRP will complement existing state mercury switch reduction efforts, and will help to reduce up to 75 tons of mercury emissions over the next 15 years.
For more detailed information about the NVMSRP and links to participating states, go to the State Mercury Car Switch Initiatives under the NVMSRP Web page.
Universal
Waste Rule
EPA's universal waste rule streamlines hazardous
waste management standards for federally designated "universal
wastes," which include batteries, pesticides, lamps, and
mercury-containing equipment. The regulations govern the collection
and management of these widely generated wastes, thus facilitating
environmentally sound collection and proper recycling or treatment.
States can also modify the universal waste rule and add universal
waste in individual state
regulations, so check with your state for the exact regulations
that apply.
Chemical
Management Services (CMS)
Secondary schools, colleges,
universities, and laboratory research facilities use chemicals as
part of their educational and research programs. Recent EPA regional
enforcement initiatives focusing on universities show the need for
improvement in their management of chemicals. In response,
educational institutions are working to find effective approaches to
better manage chemicals. The Chemical Management Services (CMS)
model, which has been successfully used in the industry setting, may
be applied to educational and research institutions to improve
chemical use efficiency and to reduce waste generation. This model
has proven successful in the automotive and semiconductor industries
for metals like mercury.