When lower dosed lamps enter the waste stream, more lamps will have to be processed to recover the same amount of mercury because the cost of processing each lamp is the same, irrespective of mercury content. Mercury recovered from recycled lamps may, after refining, be used in the manufacture of new lamps. Waste streams that have no intrinsic value are also likely candidates for speculative accumulation. There are documented instances of large numbers of lamps, on which recycling fees have been prepaid, being abandoned and causing an actual hazard. Homeowners should utilize their Household Hazardous Waste collection centers where available.
Some States have solid waste bans in place for all mercury-containing devices.
Require best management practices to minimize lamp breakage during shipping, irrespective of the method of disposal. This greatly reduces storage and transportation costs. It also eliminates the possibility of any further emission from breakage during storage, transportation or disposal. By negotiation with the lamp industry, encourage the continued reduction of mercury introduced into the lamps during manufacture. Continue the exemptions for households and very small commercial quantities of lamps.