New York Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Regulations
Quick Facts:
- Due to mercury concerns, recycling fluorescent bulbs is required by law by the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation for businesses and organizations that discard more than 15 lamps per month
- Crushing fluorescent bulbs is allowed in New York
- Prepaid bulb recycling by mail is allowed in New York
Recycling Options Available in New York:
THE BULB EATER
Crushes fluorescent lamps of any size while removing mercury vapors. Reduces labor, recycling costs, and storage vs. packing lamps
EASYPAK RECYCLING CONTAINERS
Fill up containers with bulbs, ballasts, batteries, or e-waste at your own pace and mail back via prepaid shipping
BULK RECYCLING PICKUPS
For larger amounts of bulbs, ballasts, batteries, or e-waste. Trucks come pick up waste at your location for recycling
Questions about recycling in your state? Contact us for more information.
Detailed New York Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Regulations
The stringency chart below provides examples of state regulations compared to the EPA regulations.
We strongly recommend that you discuss stringency with your primary state regulatory contact. This information should not be interpreted as definitive legal guidance. This document was produced in June 2004, and we do not guarantee its accuracy after that date, as state policies may change at any time.
("same" means the state policy is the same as the federal policy)
Confused about terminology (CESQG, UW, TCLP, etc.)? Refer to this glossary for help.
| Jurisdiction | Generator Exemption (CESQG) |
Where can waste from CESQG go? | Can the waste be declared non- hazardous, based on TCLP? | Other stringency or exemptions? |
| Federal EPA | Generators producing less than 100 kg (220 pounds) of hazardous waste (HW) or 1 kg acute HW in each month, including all HW generated. CESQGs are exempt from federal rules, but not exempt from liability (40 CFR 261.5) | Waste may go to any Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (MSWLF) | Wastes that test less than 0.2mg/l soluble mercury are not considered hazardous under federal rules. | Crushing can only be done by generator (40 CFR 262.34); crushed waste that is not UW- must be managed as RCRA HW. Crushing not allowed within federal UWR, but may be within State UW regulations. No one may crush third-party lamps without treatment authorization [1]. No mobile treatment units. |
| New York [3] | No CESQG exemption - Small business exemption if less than 100 employees and less than 15 lamps per month | Waste must go to RCRA Sub-C facility or other permitted facility | No-all lamps with mercury added are H.W. | DTC same as fed. Requires UW lamp shipments >500 lbs. to be carried by permitted HW transporter. |
State Regulatory Contacts
PLEASE NOTE:
The primary contact is the first person you should reach for information on recycling and mercury-lamp management.
If the primary contact is not available, or if you are seeking a particular regulatory expertise, use the secondary contacts listed here.
| Contact | Title | Agency Address | Phone | |
| Mark Moroukian | Environmental Engineer II |
Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials, Bureau of Hazardous Waste Regulation 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233 |
(518) 402-8633 | mmmorouk@gw.dec.state.ny.us |
| Tony Martin | NY-DEC Technical Assistance | (518) 402-9543 | ||
| Michelle Ching | Environmental Engineer II | (518) 402-8633 | ||
| Bureau of Hazardous Waste Management | (518) 402-8609 | |||
More Resources
| Web Links and Informational Resources | |
| New York Department of Environmental Conservation Home Page | http://www.dec.ny.gov |
| Hazardous Waste Lamp Management | http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8787.html |
| Guidance On Lamp Recycling and Crushing | http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8787.html |
| Mercury-Added Products Law | http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8853.html |
