Incandescent Lamps Vs. Fluorescent Lamps

We’ve all heard by now that fluorescent lamps are considered to be the better option when it comes to lighting choices, but why? Well for starters, fluorescent lamps are four to six times more efficient than incandescent lamps, which in turn reduces the power demand from local utilities. Since most power stations use coal as a source for electrical generation, they are large emitters of both greenhouse gas and mercury, which is naturally occurring in most coal that is used today. The reduced demand for electricity in turn reduces both greenhouse gas and mercury emissions.

Although incandescent light bulbs may seem like the cheaper option at the counter, consumers will actually save money on CFLs in the long run. While a CFL may cost about $2.00 per bulb, compared to about $0.50 cents for an incandescent bulb, a CFL is four to six times more efficient than an incandescent and lasts an estimated 8 to 15 times as long as an incandescent.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Selecting the Greener Light Bulb

As rising energy costs and environmental concerns become increasingly important factors in consumers’ and businesses’ purchasing selections, fluorescent lamps and CFLs have increased in popularity. CFLs emit approximately the same amount of visible light as incandescents, but they last 8 to 15 times as long and provide significant energy savings. The use of more efficient lighting options, such as CFLs, is one of easiest and lowest-cost ways for the nation to reduce electricity use and greenhouse gases. However, these lamps are fragile and, upon breaking, they release mercury vapor that can be detrimental to handlers' health—from those involved with handling new bulbs to people involved with storing, packaging and shipping used lamps.

Mercury-containing lamps need to be recycled properly. Fluorescent lamps should be taken to a recycling center or placed in one of a variety of containers that are marketed for transportation of fluorescent lamps and CFLs, however, many don't provide sufficient protection against mercury vapor emitted from broken lamps. Using a proven packaging design is vital to ensuring the safety of people who handle these lamps, as well as maintaining their green benefits. Read about a recent study that tested several packaging configurations.


Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC 

Incandescent Lamps Vs. Fluorescent Lamps

We’ve all heard by now that fluorescent lamps are considered to be the better option when it comes to lighting choices, but why? Well for starters, fluorescent lamps are four to six times more efficient than incandescent lamps, which in turn reduces the power demand from local utilities. Since most power stations use coal as a source for electrical generation, they are large emitters of both greenhouse gas and mercury, which is naturally occurring in most coal that is used today. The reduced demand for electricity in turn reduces both greenhouse gas and mercury emissions.

Although incandescent light bulbs may seem like the cheaper option at the counter, consumers will actually save money on CFLs in the long run. While a CFL may cost about $2.00 per bulb, compared to about $0.50 cents for an incandescent bulb, a CFL is four to six times more efficient than an incandescent and lasts an estimated 8 to 15 times as long as an incandescent.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

The Life of a Recycled Lamp

Once a lamp has been recycled, it is usually sent to a recycling facility via truck, UPS or FedEx® in bulk or in pre-paid shipping recycling boxes. These boxes should be specifically designed to accommodate various sized lamps and effectively contain mercury vapor emitted from broken lamps.

Once received, the recycler crushes the lamps, along with other contaminated products, devices and debris, to safely exhaust the mercury vapor and extract and reuse the resultant mercury—ensuring mercury is not released into the environment. The remaining debris is then placed in 55-gallon drums and sent to a retort facility—where the drums are heated to high temperatures to eliminate any remaining mercury. Any remaining glass and aluminum is furthered recycled and reused.

This process reduces the potential dangers of mercury vapor emitted from used fluorescent lamps—effectively reducing environmental liability and protecting both handlers and consumers from potential safety hazards and health risks.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Answering the Big Question: Are Fluorescent Bulbs Really Green?

One simple answer: yes. Fluorescent lamps are four to six times more efficient than their incandescent counterparts and emit about the same amount of visible light, all while offering longer working life and saving significant energy costs.

Using more efficient lighting options, such as CFLs and other fluorescent lamps, is one of the lowest-cost ways for the nation to reduce electricity use and greenhouse gases. Although incandescent light bulbs may seem like the cheaper option at the counter, consumers will actually save money on CFLs in the long run. While a CFL may cost about $2.00 per bulb, compared to about $0.50 cents for an incandescent bulb, a CFL is four to six times more efficient than an incandescent and lasts an estimated 8 to 15 times as long as an incandescent.

Although CFLs contain small quantities of mercury—which can cause environmental, safety and health consequences—incandescent bulbs actually result in more mercury pollution. While incandescents do not contain mercury, they still contribute to its release into the environment. Because burning coal to generate electricity releases mercury into the air and incandescent bulbs use more electricity over their lifetimes, they are responsible for more energy consumption and ultimately more mercury emissions than CFLs.

The switch from an incandescent bulb to a more efficient CFL results not only in energy and cost savings, but also in less overall mercury pollution.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

How to Avoid Harmful Mercury Vapor if the Bulb Breaks

CFLs and fluorescent lamps are a sustainable lighting solution, as they give off the same amount of light as traditional incandescent lamps but are four to six times more efficient. However, CFLs and fluorescent lamps contain hazardous mercury vapor, which is emitted when these fragile bulbs break and causes significant health and safety issues, as well as environmental concerns.

If a CFL or fluorescent lamp breaks in your home, what should you do? Studies have found that mercury concentration in a room can exceed permissible exposure levels, even from the breakage of a single CFL. To prevent these potential health and safety threats from broken bulbs, the EPA offers a detailed clean-up guide: http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup-detailed.html

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Benefit From Energy-Efficient Fluorescent Lamps While Preventing Against Health & Safety Hazards

Fluorescent lamps have increased in popularity, due to rising energy costs and environmental concerns. Fluorescent lamps are four to six times more efficient than incandescent lamps, which in turn reduces the power demand from local utilities. Since most power stations use coal as a source for electrical generation, they are large emitters of both greenhouse gas and mercury, which is naturally occurring in most coal that is used today. The reduced demand for electricity in turn reduces both greenhouse gas and mercury emissions.

However, fluorescent lamps are fragile and, upon breaking, these lamps release mercury vapor that can be detrimental to handlers' health—from those involved with handling new bulbs to people involved with storing, packaging and shipping used lamps.

While a variety of containers are marketed for transportation of fluorescent lamps, many don't provide sufficient protection against mercury vapor emitted from broken lamps. Using a proven packaging design is vital to ensuring the safety of people who handle these lamps, as well as maintaining their green benefits.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Consequences of Mercury Vapor Pollution and Exposure

Despite increasing awareness of the safety and environmental hazards of mercury vapor emitted from used fluorescent lamps, most are still not recycled. In fact, the EPA estimates the recycling rate of fluorescent lamps at only 20 to 25 percent, with the rest ending up in dumpsters and, eventually, in landfills—where they may continue to emit hazardous mercury vapor into the environment.

Mercury does not break down over time. It can get into drinking water, lakes, rivers and streams, posing a critical threat to human health, as well as the environment. Mercury is a known neurotoxin and it can bioaccumulate as it goes up the food chain. Recent studies have linked mercury exposure to increased risk of heart attack in men, mental retardation and neurological disorders in children, and to dangerous levels of mercury in the blood of women of childbearing age.

Though fluorescent lamps are a valuable resource for large facilities and homes, they must be disposed of properly to provide a truly environmentally conscious solution. Some states are taking steps to regulate mercury-containing wastes, but businesses and consumers alike can act now to protect the environment from these hazards. Taking the initiative to ensure that all used lamps are properly stored, transported and recycled can protect against potential hazards while taking advantage of the benefits fluorescent lamps provide.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Cost-Saving Benefits of CFLs and Fluorescent Lamps

CFLs and fluorescent lamps save significant costs in electricity expenses, right? According to recent articles, many people are in doubt about this claim, and refuse to believe these bulbs are actually saving them money by using less energy. Furthermore, the higher initial cost of the bulbs is preventing many consumers from making the switch. However, tests have shown that CFLs can save households money even under the least ideal conditions.

CFLs and fluorescent lamps give off the same amount of light as their traditional incandescent counterparts, but they require considerably less electricity, which in turn reduces the damaging effects electric power generation causes to the environment. Incandescent light bulbs actually require four times the amount of energy to produce equivalent light in a fluorescent lamp. Fluorescent lamps are four to six times more efficient than incandescent lamps, reducing the power demand from local utilities. Because most power stations use coal as a source for electrical generation, they are large emitters of both greenhouse gas and mercury, which is naturally occurring in most coal that is used today.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

EPA Packaging Regulations

Shipping, packaging, and handling of fluorescent lamps is a major concern because of the harmful mercury vapor emitted when the lamps are broken, which commonly occurs during shipment. To lessen the health and environmental risks associated with mercury vapor, national laws--sometimes supplemented by more rigorous state laws--exist to encourage proper recycling of fluorescent lamps. EPA encourages recycling of these lamps by allowing common carrier shipment to recycling facilities. To protect people who handle fluorescent lamps, EPA instructs that packaging should be designed to protect against breakage. While the rules mandate that lamps be packaged in structurally sound packages, the federal laws don't explicitly address mercury vapor release.

Read more about State Universal Waste Regulations and Federal Universal Waste Regulations

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Minimize Safety, Health and Environmental Risks of Used Fluorescent Lamps: Breakage

The fact is, fluorescent lamps are fragile, and along their life cycle from manufacture to disposal—some product will inevitably break. A proven packaging configuration with a zip closure foil-plastic laminate bag is available to effectively contain mercury vapor, allowing safe transportation and storage to recycling facilities and mitigating the danger of mercury vapor exposure. However, if a lamp is broken outside of these containers—during handling and maintenance for instance—the proper steps should be taken to minimize exposure.

The EPA provides guidelines for cleaning up a broken fluorescent light, including a CFL or fluorescent bulb. First, the facility’s maintenance personnel should empty the room of people and pets, airing the area out for 15 minutes or more. The glass fragments should then be carefully picked up (with stiff paper or cardboard) and placed in a glass jar with a metal lid. Remaining fragments should be removed by the use of sticky tape, but a vacuum and/or broom should not be used. For additional information and a more complete clean-up guide, visit the EPA’s website.

Read our previous posts in this series on how to handle, store, transport and recycle used fluorescent lamps.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Minimize Safety, Health and Environmental Risks of Used Fluorescent Lamps: Recycling

Despite the safety, health and environmental hazards of used fluorescent lamps, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates recycling rates at only 20 to 25 percent. According to one study, mercury air emissions could be lowered by 30 percent if recycling rates are increased to 50 percent and improvements in handling are made to lower losses from breakage. (1) Consumers can choose to recycle used lamps in several different ways. Lamps can be sent to a recycling facility via truck, UPS or FedEx® in bulk or through pre-paid shipping recycling box programs—which provide simple online ordering, tracking and compliance documentation for the proper management of mercury-containing items and other types of Universal Waste.

Once received, the recycler may crush the lamps, along with other contaminated products, devices and debris, to safely exhaust the mercury vapor and extract and reuse the resultant mercury—ensuring mercury is not released into the environment. This process minimizes the potential dangers of mercury vapor emitted from used fluorescent lamps—effectively reducing environmental liability and protecting both handlers and consumers from potential safety hazards and health risks.

Read our previous posts in this series on how to handle, store and transport used fluorescent lamps, and find out next week what do if the bulb breaks.

Reference:
1. 3. Cain, A.; Disch, S.; Twaroski, C.; Reindl, J.; Case, C.R. Substance Flow
Analysis of Mercury Intentionally Used in Products in the United States; J. Ind. Ecol. 2007, 11, 61-75.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Minimize Safety, Health and Environmental Risks of Used Fluorescent Lamps: Storage

One broken 48-inch fluorescent lamp in a small room or vehicle can release enough mercury vapor to exceed the Federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL). This means that mercury vapor concentrations could exceed occupational exposure levels when working with or near broken bulbs, especially when multiple bulbs are stored or shipped in bulk to recycling facilities.

Often, maintenance workers at small to large facilities store used lamps for a period of time until numerous lamps are collected for transportation to recycling facilities. Stored lamps may be bumped around and broken, so maintenance workers should package used lamps in a configuration proven to contain mercury vapor emissions. A recent study from the University of Minnesota indicates that three layers of packaging are necessary to provide sufficient containment of mercury vapor. An outer cardboard layer provides structure to the configuration and protects contents from outside elements. A bag positioned between two cardboard layers should feature a suitable material and tight seal—such as a unique zip closure foil-plastic laminate bag—to contain the mercury vapor. Finally, an inner layer of cardboard prevents broken glass from piercing the bag.

Read our previous post on how to handle used fluorescent lamps, and find out next week how to safely transport them.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Future Mercury Waste Regulations: The First Step to a Brighter Future

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promotes recycling of fluorescent lamps by allowing common carrier shipment to recycling facilities. The federal Universal Waste Rule requires packaging to be compatible with the contents of lamps, structurally sound and adequate to prevent breakage—but this rule does not specifically address mercury vapor release. In 2005, a provision was added that requires packaging for mercury-containing products to be "reasonably designed to prevent the escape of mercury into the environment by volatilization or any other means." However, fluorescent lamps were excluded from this rule.(1)

However, some states are beginning to address the dangers of unsafe packaging and transportation of used fluorescent lamps and mercury containing devices. On March 19, 2010, Washington signed Senate Bill 5543, requiring that lights and other mercury-containing devices are packaged and shipped in material that will minimize the release of mercury into the environment. The law also states that they should include mercury vapor barrier packaging if transported by the United States postal service or a common carrie. This new legislation is set to be the precursor of future state and federal legislation as awareness of mercury vapor dangers increases. Find out more about these types of waste regulations and programs at these United States Environmental Protection Agency Sites.

REFERENCE
1. Standards for Universal Waste Management: Applicability—Lamps. CFR, Part 273.5, Title 40, 2007.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Switching To a More Efficient Bulb

Fluorescent lamps give off the same amount of light as their traditional incandescent counterparts, but they require considerably less electricity, which in turn reduces the damaging effects electric power generation causes to the environment. Incandescent light bulbs actually require four times the amount of energy to produce equivalent light in a fluorescent lamp. Fluorescent lamps are four to six times more efficient than incandescent lamps, reducing the power demand from local utilities. Because most power stations use coal as a source for electrical generation, they are large emitters of both greenhouse gas and mercury, which is naturally occurring in most coal that is used today.

Mercury does present significant health and safety risks to consumers and handlers. However, proper packaging does exist that has been proven to protect people from mercury vapor exposure when handling fragile fluorescent lamps. To ensure sufficient packaging methods are used, packaging regulations should be defined and enforced.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Which Packaging Configuration Effectively Contains Mercury Vapor?

To avoid both health and environmental risks associated with mercury vapor emissions from broken fluorescent lamps, they should be packaged, stored and transported to recycling facilities in a configuration that is specifically designed to contain mercury vapor—and proven to be effective.

The University of Minnesota study measured the performance of three different categories of packaging configurations that are used to store and transport used fluorescent lamps: single layer cardboard boxes, single layer cardboard boxes with a plastic bag, and double-layer cardboard boxes with a bag between the two layers. In ten replicate experiments, each box was filled with 40 used low-mercury T4 fluorescent lamps, dropped and shaken in a test chamber until the lamps were broken. During the next six hours, the level of mercury vapor inside the test chamber was measured and recorded. (1)

1. Single Layer Cardboard Box: Similar to the package in which fluorescent lamps are usually sold in, this packaging configuration was the least effective. It resulted in airborne mercury vapor levels in the test chamber exceeding all workplace exposure levels, as defined by state and federal authorities.
2. Single Layer Cardboard Box with a Plastic Bag: This contained the mercury better than the first box, but still emitted some mercury vapor.
3. Double-Layer Cardboard Boxes with a Bag Between the Two Layers: Out of all of the configurations, only this package design kept mercury vapor levels in the test chamber below all workplace exposure regulations and guidelines.

REFERENCES
1. Glenz, Tracy T., Lisa M. Brosseau, and Richard W. Hoffbeck. "Preventing Mercury Vapor Release from Broken Fluorescent Lamps during Shipping." Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 59 (2009): 266-72. Print.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Earthmate Compact Fluorescent Lights

Waste Management now offers Earthmate compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) in recyclable packaging that also doubles as a CFL recycling kit. This new product includes Earthmate CFLs packaged in a resealable box lined with the VaporLok™ Products, LLC technology , which is designed to reduce the risk of airborne mercury exposure and environmental contamination from lamps broken during storage and shipping. The box is suitable for storing used CFLs and is approved for shipping by the United States Postal Service. Consumers return their used CFLs in the included postage paid shipping container to the Waste Management lamp recycling center simply by mailing them from home or any of over 34,000 US Post Offices. Learn more here.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

CFL Recycling Information Supplied by Manufacturers: Philips, TESCO and GE

Although consumer awareness of the health and safety risks associated with mercury vapor emitted from broken CFLs has increased, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates recycling rates of possibly less than two percent. If not properly recycled, the emitted mercury vapor poses a significant threat to not only the health of consumers, but also to the health of our environment. Mercury-containing products, such as CFLs, need to be properly recycled to truly be considered truly green products. Yet according to a study conducted by Toxic Waste Facts (1), only one of the three top light bulb manufacturers displays significant recycling information on their packaging:

Philips: The packaging of a CFL from Philips contains no specific information on disposal or risks associated with mercury contained in the bulbs. The information on the packaging details the life expectancy, wattage, a recycling symbol and an A rating.

TESCO: The packaging of a CFL from TESCO includes handling and fitting safety instructions, as well as a list of states that ban CFL household waste disposal, with more information available in store or via the website recycle-more.co.uk. Packages also contain the A rating and the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol. However, they do not offer any instructions regarding breakage clean-up or health risks.

General Electric: The packaging of a CFL from General Electric contains no information on disposal, recycling or any risks associated with the bulb. The information on the packaging details the life expectancy, wattage and an A rating.

It is important that consumers are made aware of the risks associated with broken CFLs and other mercury-containing products, and manufacturers should change packaging to better detail risks, usage and disposal methods.

1. An Assessment of Benefits and Potential Health and Environmental Hazards from Compact Fluorescent Lights. Toxic Waste Facts; available at http://toxicwastefacts.com/toxicwaste/an-assessment-of-benefits-and-potential-health-and-environmental-hazards-from-compact-fluorescent-lights

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Part II: Analyzing the Environmental Impact of Different Waste Management Methods: Incineration and Crushing

Incineration is a waste treatment technology that involves the combustion of organic materials or substances.(1) Also known as "thermal treatment", incineration of waste materials converts the waste into incinerator bottom ash, flue gases, particulates and heat. In the past, many municipal waste combustors did not have special controls to reduce mercury emissions. The incineration of mercury-containing lamps, therefore, released up to 90% of the mercury to the air.(2) By the end of 2000, most incinerators were equipped with more stringent EPA-mandated mercury controls, dramatically reducing the amount of mercury that incinerators release from any mercury-containing product. According to the EPA, mercury emissions from municipal solid waste combustors declined from 42 tons of mercury in 1990 to 2 tons in 2001.(3) However, this amount of mercury release can be further reduced by recycling used fluorescent lamps.

Crushing lamps prior to transportation reduces the volume of waste, while utilizing mercury filters and other technology to limit mercury emissions. Crushing can significantly reduce transportation and storage costs for generators. However, the efficacy of lamp crushers is debated, and the practice has been banned by many state pollution control agencies.

Other recycling options, such as the services offered by Mercury Waste Solutions, should be applied to mercury-containing lamps to safely and effectively remove the mercury vapor. Their patented continuous flow retort oven has been designed to process up to 1,000 lbs per hour of flowable mercury-contaminated powders and other solids—effectively recovering mercury from contaminated products and reducing mercury pollution.

1. Knox, Andrew (February 2005). "An Overview of Incineration and EFW Technology as Applied to the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)" (PDF). University of Western Ontario.
2. “Lamp Industry Product Stewardship: A Record of Accomplishment,” NEMA Lamp Section, October 2004.
3. “Emissions from Large MWC Units at MACT Compliance,” Memorandum from Walt Stevenson, Combustion Group, UAQPS, EPA, June 20, 2002

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC

Part I: Analyzing the Environmental Impact of Different Waste Management Methods: Recycling Vs. Landfills

Recycling mercury-containing lights, such as fluorescent lamps and CFLs, provides many health, safety and environmental advantages. The main advantage of recycling used energy-efficient lights is in preventing mercury from entering the solid waste steam—where a portion of it is likely to be released into the environment. Another advantage is from the reuse of certain raw materials from mercury-containing lamps, including the mercury itself. Although the initial cost for recycling is higher than disposal to landfills, the cost is typically less than 1% of the electric savings allotted from the reduced energy use fluorescent lamps provide over traditional incandescent lights.(1)

Many consumers dispose of used fluorescent lamps in dumpsters, which eventually end up in landfills, where they may emit hazardous mercury vapor into the environment. A study of exposure to broken low-mercury lamps by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection entitled, "Release of Mercury from Broken Fluorescent Bulbs" demonstrated that "elevated airborne levels of mercury could exist in the vicinity of recently broken lamps, and "could exceed occupational exposure limits."(2) Collectively, the total amount of mercury released from lamp breakage adds to the overall mercury pollution in the United States, increasing health and safety hazards for consumers and waste handlers. Increased lamp recycling is recommended to further reduce mercury pollution.

1. “Fluorescent and other Mercury-Containing Lamps and the Environment,” NEMA, March 2005.
2. Aucott, Michael, Michael McLinden, and Michael Winka, 2003, Release of Mercury from Broken Fluorescent Bulbs, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 53:143-151.

Brad Buscher
Chairman and CEO
VaporLok Products LLC