Category: National Pre-Paid

Thumbs Up for Lamp Recycling!

January 11, 2012   nlrgreen   No comments
thumbs-up

Fluorescent lamp recycling for a business of any size has its positives that far outweigh not recycling and just going on with business as usual. There are positives that can be quantified, ones that can be physically seen and still others that have long reaching effects.

  • Through tracking and reporting a business can have a total of all their recycling efforts across one or multiple sites. This will allow them to be able to craft a more effective lamp recycling program by being able to pin-point which program (bulk or mail back) is right for them.
  • The bottom line. As with most things there is a charge for lamp recycling, but the cost is less than fines that can be assessed for improper management. Would a company rather pay $49 for a pre-paid recycling program that eliminates their liability or would they rather pay hundreds of dollars in fines for the same material that wasn’t recycled?
  • By collecting and correctly storing used lamps a business can reduce their liability for breakage, environmental breach, and possible employee injury
  • Recycling is both environmentally and corporate responsible. Recycling lamps keeps mercury out of our landfill and in turn out of the water and food sources that can directly impact our health
  • A lamp program can help a business increase their green image as well as convey a message of environmental stewardship to their employees and customers. Businesses can set up a company-wide recycling drive for all their employees or use their total lamp recycling numbers to quantify how much mercury was kept out of the environment. Real “Green Press” is green gold in today’s PR world.
  • Simply-Its the law and the right thing to do.

 

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The Thin Green Line

January 06, 2012   nlrgreen   No comments

Green Line

Programs like office paper, glass and can recycling are often implemented by a business’s  ”green team’ or as part of a corporate sustainability program. These programs help not only the environment but also provide a tangible aspect to a businesses green image and environmental responsibility. A corporate officer or employee can easily see the recycling bins and see what they have accomplished. However a company may not be subject to EPA fines if  the program is improperly managed or liable for incorrect storage of these items.* Would a EPA auditor say “Hey those aluminum cans and paper for shredding have no accumulation date.” or “What is your procedure to guard against environmental breach of those Snapple bottles?”. Most likely not. So when does environmental responsibility become a environmental requirement? Answer: When a company generates used lamps, batteries, ewaste, ballasts or mercury devices.

While used fluorescent lamps are taken away to the proper storage containers in the back of a  facility may not be in your face “look at us we recycle” it is still environmentally friendly and most importantly is the LAW.  Simple things such as having a universal waste recycling program, trained staff or properly stored containers with accumulation dates can help companies be compliant and reduce their liability. All of these things can be accomplished without a environmental health and safety officer or being a draw on budgets. The below are a few simple steps to successful universal waste recycling:

1) Learn & Educate-Understand your state’s regulations and specifics on universal waste
• What is Universal Waste? • RCRA Requirements • My State’s Regs
2) Assess Your Company- Take a general look at what universal waste your company produces and how often. See if you are a small or large generator3) Plan the Program- Based on the amount of waste generated see if a national mail-back program or bulk pick-up service is needed. Also look at factors beyond quantities such as ease of management, your facilities locations, or specific needs of your industry.

4) Implement & Monitor- Once you have selected the proper program be sure to implement it company-wide, educate employees, monitor progress, keep recycling records/certificates and evaluate the program yearly.

5) Have Questions or Need Assistance? Get Help-Call 877.822.4733 to discuss your company’s specific needs, implement a new program or to enhance a current one.
*depending on what state your company is in this may not be true. Check your local laws and regulations.

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LEED the Way

June 27, 2011   nlrgreen   1 Comment

LEED Logo

LEED certification has started to become a staple of businesses in the United States. LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) is often the certification obtained by many property owners. It applies to building upgrades, retrofits and typically focuses on the performance of a building rather than the design.

 

If a business is going for LEED certification they are most definitely looking at their lighting systems for a retrofit or change over to the LEED-EB specified lighting standards. There is a category within LEED-EB called “Material Resources” that includes a prerequisite for low mercury bulbs. The prerequisite is detailed as to”establish and maintain a toxic material source reduction program to reduce the amount of mercury brought into buildings through purchases of light bulbs.”. It goes on to state the specifics including mercury content and specific lamps that meet LEED-EB. Most likely a business would need to change out it’s current bulbs resulting in a need for a proper lamp recycling program.

While lamp recycling is not required for LEED-EB it does fall under Occupant Recycling in Material Resources and up to 3 points can be awarded. Additionally this credit also requires 95% recycling for batteries, and 30% (1 point), 40% (2 points), or 50% (3 points) of all waste, including paper, metal, cardboard, plastic, etc.

We have always seen recycling as an easy initial rung on the LEED ladder. Setting up a lamp and battery recycling program is easy and can garner up to 3 points for a certification. We have put together the NLR LEEDPak to assist in this goal. The LEEDPak contains everything needed to start your recycling program including: Choice of any (2) 4′, 8′ BakPak or MultiPak containers and (1) BatteryPak at a reduced rate. Its the easiest way to start your path to LEED certification.

Learn About:

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Business Lamp Recycling 101

April 04, 2011   nlrgreen   No comments

Sometimes the best way to start is at the beginning:

#1 Lamp Recycling is the Law
#2 Lamp Recycling helps business stay in compliance and not get fined by the EPA (see #1)
#3 Throwing out even 1 lamp in a dumpster or garbage is illegal (see #1)
#4 Not properly recycling has big environmental impacts (see #1)

Can you guess the main point of the above? Yes the proper recycling of lamps is the laws. The regulations vary from state to state but the requierments are there. Many businesses are still unaware of this. If you are a business entity (including non-profits, schools, hospitals, restaurant) you have responsibilities under the Universal Waste Rule to recycle.  Time and time again we will get calls either the day before the EPA is set to audit a facility or after they have gotten a fine.  It is required if you have only 1 employee or even 1000.  The the availability of pre-paid mail back programs and bulk pick-up service really can make the possibility of fines and non-compliance a non-issue for most businesses.

Now you just need to know if you are a small or large quantity generator. More on that tomorrow….but first a short video on how not to recycle lamps (at least they are using jacketed)

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