Based on everything we’ve seen, most schools have a pretty good track record when it comes to finding ways to keep students safe and healthy by developing recycling programs for anything that could be harmful or dangerous, such as the mercury found in fluorescent lamps. It’s been brought to our attention, however, that some of these recycling programs might not be the best option available.
In recent months we’ve noticed a common theme. A lot of schools we talk to are using drum-top crushers to crush fluorescent lamps inside of a steel drum. The truth is it’s a great concept that is poorly executed. The reason so many of these schools are choosing to crush lamps inside a drum is that it helps to cut down on the storage space needed in the building. The problem, however, is that each time these crushers are operated, a small amount of mercury is released into the air. While that small amount may not seem like a big deal, it’s important to keep in mind that these toxins are being introduced into a sensitive community. Children are at a higher risk of developing illnesses, so why do something that we know could have harmful side effects?
In an effort to help them move away from using bulb crushers, we work closely with schools to develop a program that won’t take up a lot of storage space and will help keep children safe and healthy. Doing this gives parents one less thing to worry about, which we all know is a huge relief.
Now you might be asking, “why should we be concerned about recycling fluorescent light bulbs at our child’s school?” The answer is pretty simple, actually. The materials found inside fluorescent lamps, specifically mercury, can be extremely harmful to our health if they are not handled properly. Rather than using practices that could potentially cause big issues, let someone who is trained to handle the materials take care of everything.
For schools, which can range in size from only a hundred students all the way up to thousands of students, there are two lamp recycling options. The first, for larger schools, is our on-site pickup option. EverLights will come to your school to pick up all the lamps that need to be recycled. For smaller schools, the best option is our mail-in lamp recycling program, EverMail. A one time fee covers the cost of the box to package the material in, recycling costs and shipping.
If you work for a school or school district looking for a new fluorescent lamp recycling program, please give us a call. We’ll help you figure out the best way to recycle your lamps while keeping your school clean and safe.
