BRC Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide 06/2013 Purpose: We are the Positive Impact People and recycling hazardous materials in a responsible manner is just one more way we can all make a difference. The Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide (HMR Guide) will cover care and disposal of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), Florescent, Mercury, Ballasts, and Dry Cell Battery products. Compliance with this program will ensure resident and employee safety when handling and disposing of any of the above items which in turn will eliminate these items from our landfills and air/atmosphere ensuring a healthier environment. Obtaining the required recycling containers: BRC requires use of Veolia Recycling containers which should be ordered through HD Supply. All containers come with a return shipping label. These labels need to be secured or affixed to the recycling containers at the time the container is received. Use the paperwork that comes attached to the container for record keeping. It is very important that the date of the first bulb or product be written on the container and in the appropriate box on the shipping label. We also suggest the same date be placed on the container in permanent marker. Figure 1 ‐ Location of first use date on shipping label
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BRC Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide final · Handling CFL and Mercury materials when adding or removing from recycling containers; When handling CFL’s and Mercury, the following
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BRC Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide
06/2013
Purpose:
We are the Positive Impact People and recycling hazardous materials in a responsible manner is
just one more way we can all make a difference. The Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide
(HMR Guide) will cover care and disposal of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), Florescent,
Mercury, Ballasts, and Dry Cell Battery products. Compliance with this program will ensure
resident and employee safety when handling and disposing of any of the above items which in
turn will eliminate these items from our landfills and air/atmosphere ensuring a healthier
environment.
Obtaining the required recycling containers:
BRC requires use of Veolia Recycling containers which should be ordered through HD Supply. All
containers come with a return shipping label. These labels need to be secured or affixed to the
recycling containers at the time the container is received. Use the paperwork that comes
attached to the container for record keeping. It is very important that the date of the first bulb
or product be written on the container and in the appropriate box on the shipping label. We
also suggest the same date be placed on the container in permanent marker.
Figure 1 ‐ Location of first use date on shipping label
BRC Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide
06/2013
BRC requires that properties purchase containers to recycle each of the following items. Not
all items are applicable to all properties.
CFLs – Recommend medium 40‐90 CFL’s (supply – 068) price $71.00 150 and 250 CFL
Figure 6 ‐ Proof of Purchase portion of Label ‐ Keep for Records
Record Keeping;
BRC Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide
06/2013
Upon receiving the returned containers Veolia will issue a “Certificate of Acceptance” For
Recycling and/ or Disposal of the contents. This is the official record of participation in the
program as well as a detailed record of the items/material recycled. These records should be
kept for a minimum of 10 years.
Figure 7 ‐ Certificate of Acceptance
WHEN A CFL BULB BREAKS
Why is it important to clean up a broken CFL properly?
CFLs and other fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. When a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home, some of this mercury is released as mercury vapor. To minimize exposure to mercury vapor, EPA recommends that consumers follow the cleanup and disposal steps described in this document.
Before Cleanup
BRC Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide
06/2013
Have people and pets leave the room, and avoid the breakage area on the way out.
Open a window or door to the outdoors and leave the room for 5‐10 minutes.
Shut off the central forced‐air heating/air conditioning (H&AC) system, if you have one.
Collect materials you will need to clean up the broken bulb:
o Stiff paper or cardboard o Sticky tape (e.g., duct tape) o Damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces) o Glass jar with a metal lid (such as a canning jar) or a sealable plastic bag(s)
Cleanup Steps for Hard Surfaces
Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place debris
and paper/cardboard in a glass jar with a metal lid. If a glass jar is not available, use a sealable
plastic bag.
o NOTE: Since a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping, remove the
plastic bag(s) from the home after cleanup.
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and
powder. Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag.
Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels in the
glass jar or plastic bag.
Vacuuming of hard surfaces during cleanup is not recommended unless broken glass remains
after all other cleanup steps have been taken.
o NOTE: It is possible that vacuuming could spread mercury‐containing powder or
mercury vapor, although available information on this problem is limited.
If vacuuming is needed to ensure removal of all broken glass, keep the following tips in mind:
o Keep a window or door to the outdoors open;
o Vacuum the area where the bulb was broken using the vacuum hose, if available; and
o Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and seal the bag/vacuum
debris, and any materials used to clean the vacuum, in a plastic bag.
Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags in the
appropriate recycling container and secure the lid as described in the Storing Containers section
of this document.
Wash your hands with soap and water after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing bulb
debris and cleanup materials.
Continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the H&AC system shut off, as
practical, for several hours.
BRC Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide
06/2013
Cleanup Steps for Carpeting or Rugs
Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place debris
and paper/cardboard in a glass jar with a metal lid. If a glass jar is not available, use a sealable
plastic bag.
o NOTE: Since a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping, remove the
plastic bag(s) from the home after cleanup.
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and
powder. Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag.
Vacuuming of carpeting or rugs during cleanup is not recommended unless broken glass remains
after all other cleanup steps have been taken.
o NOTE: It is possible that vacuuming could spread mercury‐containing powder or
mercury vapor, although available information on this problem is limited.
If vacuuming is needed to ensure removal of all broken glass, keep the following tips in mind:
o Keep a window or door to the outdoors open;
o Vacuum the area where the bulb was broken using the vacuum hose, if available, and
o Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and seal the bag/vacuum
debris, and any materials used to clean the vacuum, in a plastic bag.
Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags in the
appropriate recycling container and secure the lid as described in the Storing Containers section
of this document.
Wash your hands with soap and water after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing bulb
debris and cleanup materials.
Continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the H&AC system shut off, as
practical, for several hours.
Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rugs:
o Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming
o The next several times you vacuum the rug or carpet, shut off the HVAC system if you
have one, close the doors to other rooms, and open a window or door to the outside
before vacuuming. Change the vacuum bag after each use in this area.
o After vacuuming is completed, keep the HVAC system shut off and the window or door
to the outside open, as practical, for several hours.
What if I can't follow all the recommended steps or I cleaned up a CFL but didn't do it properly?
BRC Hazardous Materials Recycling Guide
06/2013
Don't be alarmed; these steps are precautions that reflect best practices for cleaning up a broken CFL. Keep in mind that CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury ‐‐ less than 1/100th of the amount in a mercury thermometer. However, if you are concerned about the risk to your health from potential exposure to mercury, consult your physician. Please be sure to report the exposure to your immediate supervisor as soon as the exposure occurs.
Important Contact Information for Veolia Recycling Program