Hazardous waste lamps are any lamps that are characteristically hazardous. This includes fluorescent, high intensity discharge, neon, mercury vapor, high-pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps, if they are characteristically hazardous .
Fluorescent lamps are hazardous because they contain mercury.
The new rule became effective on January 6, 2000. The Universal Waste Rule of 1995 was designed to reduce the amount of RCRA hazardous waste disposed of in municipal waste landfills, encourage recycling and proper management of some common hazardous wastes, and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses currently managing these materials as hazardous waste. Options for managing lamps include managing them as hazardous waste, managing them under the universal waste rule, or using a type of lamp that is not hazardous. Go to Environmental Protection, then Mercury Containing Lamp Rule. Pa Code 260a.1.