![]() The TCLP is used by the US EPA to determine if something is a hazardous waste. Lamps that pass the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure are called “TCLP-compliant.” These lamps may or may not have the same amount of mercury as an equivalent non-TCLP-compliant lamp. What about lamps that pass the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP)? The only sure way to know if you are buying the lamp with the lowest mercury content available for your application is to ask vendors for the actual mercury content of their lamps and select the lowest mercury lamp on the basis of that information. Some lamps are advertised as “green” or environmentally preferable, but these claims do not ensure the lowest-mercury model. ![]() How do I know if a lamp is “low-mercury?” The cost of specific lamp models depends on several factors, including the volume of lamps purchased. The cost of interchangeable models with higher or lower mercury content is usually the same or differs by a few cents. According to one estimate, 620 million fluorescent lamps are discarded annually in the US, releasing from 2 to 4 tons of mercury per year.(1) Why is it important to buy lamps with the lowest mercury content?Īlthough a single fluorescent lamp contains only a small amount of mercury, so many of these lamps are used that their overall mercury content is very large. ![]() What should purchasers look for when buying fluorescent lamps? Recommended Specification For Lamp Purchasing Contracts ◊ Actual specifications used by others ◊ Recommended language for contract announcement.Is it OK to throw TCLP-compliant lamps in the trash?.Do TCLP-compliant lamps last as long and perform as well as non-TCLP-compliant lamps?.Are TCLP-compliant lamps safer to handle in the workplace than non-TCLP-compliant lamps?.How much mercury is in a typical fluorescent lamp?.What about lamps that pass the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP)?.How do I know if a lamp is “low-mercury?”.Why is it important to buy lamps with the lowest mercury content?.What should purchasers look for when buying fluorescent lamps?.For this reason, INFORM recommends buying fluorescent lamps with the lowest mercury content possible, and ensuring that they are recycled at end of life to prevent the release of mercury to the environment. Fluorescent lamps are in fact the best choice because of their energy efficiency, but they also contain mercury, a highly persistent and toxic chemical that is building up to dangerous concentrations in fish, wildlife, and human beings throughout the US. Most government agencies, schools, hospitals, and businesses purchase fluorescent lamps for their facilities because they are more energy-efficient than incandescent lamps. Purchasing for Pollution Prevention: The Lowdown on Mercury in Fluorescent Lamps ( PDF version) Purchasing for Pollution Prevention: Fact Sheet on Mercury in Fluorescent Lamps
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