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Crushed Fluorescent Lamp Recycling

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Crushing fluorescent lamps with the Bulb Eater is a great way to cut down on storage costs and the space wasted from storing spent intact lamps. However, what do you do with the lamps after they have been crushed? With Air Cycle's Bulk Pickups, you can continue enjoying cost-effective recycling solutions after you have crushed your lamps, conserving more storage space, saving money over other recycling solutions, and helping keep the environment clean.

WITH AIR CYCLE CRUSHED LAMP BULK PICKUPS YOU CAN:

  • Have large amounts of crushed lamps picked up at your facility at your convenience
  • Save money over other recycling solutions designed for smaller amounts of waste
  • Recycle almost any type of lamp
  • Track your recycling progress online 24/7 with online recycling reports
  • Certify your progress for regulatory or management review with Recycling Certificates

Interested? Schedule a Pickup.

Contact us with any questions you may have.

FAQs

Why recycle fluorescent bulbs?

Replacing normal incandescent lamps with fluorescents can save facilities money by cutting down on energy costs. However, every fluorescent lamp contains the toxin mercury, which can cause major environmental and health problems if it is released from lamps through improper disposal methods, such as throwing bulbs in the trash. Lamp recycling that removes the mercury is essential for any facility that wants to help keep its workplace safe and the environment healthy.

Why crush bulbs?

Crushing lamps with the Bulb Eater or other devices is a great way for facilities to save space over storing boxes of intact lamps and having to pay significantly larger shipping costs to get rid of the lamps. Studies have shown that facilities that crush their own lamps can minimize storage space by 80% and save up to 50% on recycling costs.

How can I crush my own bulbs?

Facilities everywhere are utilizing the Bulb Eater for their lamp crushing needs. This innovative machine is capable of crushing lamps of any length (including U-Tube lamps). The Bulb Eater can crush a 4-foot lamp in one second, reducing labor by over 20 hours per 1,000 lamps over typical boxing and shipping. The Bulb Eater has been the recipient of many positive reviews and awards, such as “Product of the Year” by Today’s Facility Manager Magazine and a “Top 100 Product” for 2008 by Buildings Magazine. Learn more about the Bulb Eater here.

How do I know if bulk pickups are right for me?

Generally, bulk pickups are designed for facilities with over 150,000 square feet or with large amounts of lamp waste. Because bulk pickups are scheduled at your convenience, you are able to decide when you want to receive them according to your facility’s needs.

How can I track my recycling progress?

Online recycling reports allow anyone who has utilized bulk pickup recycling services to receive detailed information about their facility’s recycling progress. Each report details specifically what types of waste were recycled, the amount recycled, and the date processed. These reports are available online 24/7 and are perfect for facility management reviews, “green” marketing initiatives, and more. Visit our Recycling Reports page for more info. How should I package my lamps for pickup? Crushed lamps must be sealed in a steel 55-gallon drum complete with locking ring and lid. There cannot be any extraneous material such as wire, trash, or liquids in the drum or it will be returned.

What happens to the lamps once they are picked up?

The lamps are transported to a permitted facility to be processed. The lamps are recycled in machines designed to break down the lamp and then separate the glass, metal, and mercury. Once the glass is clean of the mercury it can be reused as well as the metal and mercury. After the lamps are processed, a Certificate of Recycling will be issued for your records to document that your lamps were properly recycled by a permitted facility.

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"No more challenges with fluorescent bulb and mercury recycling. We use the EasyPak recycling program and it is very simple and convenient for us."

Jim Slager, Homer School District 33-C

"It’s easy to work with TerraCycle Regulated Waste. Their personnel are very friendly and knowledgeable about their products and the availability of them."

Alice Johnson, Eastern Ship Building

"I am very satisfied with all the services TCRW performs. They do what they say they are going to do, and they are here when they are scheduled to be here, and their paperwork is easy. Their representative is very helpful and informative about all phases of service."

Hector Rodriguez, Mission CISD

"Excellent value for the money. The Bulb Eater® has immediately helped us reduce lamp storage and create a safer storage environment, while allowing us to add another item to our waste reduction efforts in the City of Auburn."

André Richardson Environmental Services, Auburn, AL