North Carolina Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Regulations
Quick Facts:
- Due to mercury concerns, recycling fluorescent bulbs is highly recommended by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and is required for many facilities throughout the state
- Crushing fluorescent bulbs is allowed in North Carolina
- Prepaid bulb recycling by mail is allowed in North Carolina
Recycling Options Available in North Carolina:
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 North Carolina 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. |
| North Carolina | same | Waste must go to RCRA Sub-C facility or state equivalent | same | same |
State Regulatory Contacts
| Primary Contact | Title | Agency | Phone | |
| Lebeed Kady | Environmental Engineer II |
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Hazardous Waste Section, Technical Resource Unit 401 Oberlin Rd., Suite 150 Raleigh, NC 27605 |
(919) 733-2178 ext 217 | lebeed.kady@ncmail.net |
| Secondary Contact | Title | Phone | Area of Responsibility | |
| Doug Roberts | Hydrogeologist II | (919) 733-2178 ext.233 | Electronic waste/UWR | |
| Joseph Fitzpatrick | Environmental Specialist | 919-707-8121 | Recycling guidance for mercury products | |
| Barry Edwards | Utilities and Engineering Director | (828) 465-8261 | Recycling committee for SWANA | |
| Division of Waste Management | (919) 733-4996 | |||
More Resources
| Web Links and Informational Resources | |
| Guidance Paper (PDF) | https://www.aircycle.com/local/pdf/northcarolina.pdf |
| North Carolina Division of Waste Management Home Page | http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wm/ |
| Fluorescent Lamps Regulatory Status | http://www.p2pays.org/Fluorescent/regstatus.asp |
| Standards for Universal Waste Management part 273, April, 2001 | Click Here |
