Let Mill City Environmental (MCE) Assist you with Mercury Waste!

Did you know that your family can be exposed to mercury by breathing its fumes, eating contaminated fish, or touching spilled mercury? Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring element that is toxic to both people and wildlife.  When products containing mercury are broken or thrown into the trash, outdoors, or down the drain, mercury gets into the environment, polluting air and water, and accumulating in fish. 

Mercury is used in the manufacturing of many products, including fluorescent light bulbs.  These types of bulbs are made of glass tubes filled with gas and a small amount of mercury. Fluorescent bulbs produce light when the mercury molecules are excited by electricity running between two electrodes in the base of the bulb. The mercury then emits ultraviolet light, which in turn excites the tube's phosphor coating, leading it to emit visible light.  

Photo Source: www.mercury.utah.gov

Mercury Containing Bulb Types:

Linear fluorescent tubes* U-tube * Circline Bulbs * Bug zappers * Tanning bulbs * Black lights

Germicidal bulbs * High output bulbs * Cold-cathode fluorescent bulbs *

Ceramic metal halide * High pressure sodium * Mercury vapor

Fluorescent bulbs, even low mercury bulbs, contain an average of 5-30 milligrams of mercury per bulb.  This easily adds up to a significant amount when multiple boxes of bulbs need to be disposed of.  Many states prohibit mercury-containing lamps from being discarded into landfills, including Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. 

Recycling fluorescent bulbs allows the reuse of the glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights; virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled. 

Here's how MCE can help you with Recycling of Mercury Waste!   

all state agencies, benefits include:

• Preferred pricing;
• Our processes have been pre-screened by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
• We can also supply all of the packaging, boxes, and even assist in the preparation of shipments;  
• We can perform the same services, at a very competitive rate, for our clients who are not affiliated with a state agency;
• Local clients can save even more by utilizing our convenient drop-off service at our Lowell office.