- Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
- Remove all materials by scooping up and using sticky tape to pick up glass and powder instead of vacuuming.
- Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag, seal it and throw it in an outside trash can. For more information on cleanup and disposal, visit www.epa.gov/mercury/spills or www.energystar.gov.
Reduce the Use: Business
Lighting Recycling
Say goodbye to your old fluorescent lighting.
With the availability of new, high-efficient T8 fluorescent lamps and ballasts, the U.S. government is phasing out the manufacturing of the old less efficient T12s starting this July. While the phase out will save energy used for lighting, businesses now need to find an economical way to convert to newer, more efficient lighting.
What to do with the old bulbs?
Recycle them. For free. Limited time offer.
Santee Cooper's successful Business Lighting Rebate program gives businesses an extra incentive to replace --- and recycle --- less efficient fluorescent lamps, such as T12s, with high efficient T8s, and other lighting measures.
Business Lighting Rebates.
Rebates for qualifying high efficient lighting upgrades are based on a rate of 25-cents per watt saved or avoided. In addition, converting may reduce the amount of energy used for lighting by as much as 20 to 40 percent.
The rebates are making a big difference! In the initial phase of the Business Lighting Rebate program, Santee Cooper, in partnership with Waste Management's LampTracker®, established a recycling drop-off location in the Myrtle Beach area and collected approximately 75,000 bulbs for recycling!
New drop-off location.
Encouraged by area businesses' participation, the recycling incentive program has now been extended in partnership with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. For a limited time, Waste Management's LampTracker tractor-trailer will be located at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce's office at 1200 N. Oak Street in Myrtle Beach.
During this amnesty period, fluorescent tube lamps and CFLs can be dropped off to be recycled for free. The trailer will be marked with a large "Recycle Bulbs Here" banner.
Bulbs will be accepted Thursdays from 11am - 1pm and by special arrangement.
Staff will be on hand to assist if needed.
The trailer has a total capacity of some 40,000 old bulbs. Almost every part of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled and made into other products. At Waste Management's LampTracker facility located in Williamston, SC, over 31 million bulbs were recycled in 2011.
Avoid recycling costs.
Recycling fluorescent lamps is an extensive operation and there are normally costs associated with recycling. Be sure to take advantage of this cost amnesty period by recycling your old bulbs now for free.
Do not throw away old fluorescent bulbs.
Lamps brought to the recycling location at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce will need to be sealed in Waste Management’s LampTracker® boxes to reduce the risk of mercury exposure and for proper recycling of these materials. You can pick up LampTracker® boxes at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce for free during the amnesty period prior to lamp conversions or, you can order them online at www.lamptracker.com for a fee.
You can also contact the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for information on fluorescent/CFL recycling programs in your area by calling DHEC’s Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348.
Find additional information on recycling at www.scdhec.gov or www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling.
What to do if a bulb breaks.
Fluorescent bulbs as well as CFLs have a trace of mercury, therefore, it is important to follow the EPA guidelines when cleaning up a broken bulb. The EPA recommends:
RePlace. ReCycle. ReDuce.
Replacing old fluorescent bulbs with high efficient bulbs, such as T8s, is just one of the many ways you can reduce the amount of energy your business uses.
Lighting Recycling Handout
Contact Information:
Email - energy.advisor@santeecooper.com
Phone - 843-347-3399 x3910 in Horry/Georgetown counties
843-761-8000 x3910 in Berkeley County