And don't forget about the board environmentalists.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[RCRA-2003-0011; FRL-7496-6]

Development and Implementation of a Mercury Lamp Recycling
Outreach Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Request for Applications (RFA)--Cooperative Agreements.

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SUMMARY: In FY 2002 Congress appropriated funds to the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) for the development and implementation of a
lamp (light bulb) recycling outreach program to increase awareness of
proper disposal methods among commercial and industrial users of
mercury-containing lamps, in compliance with the Universal Waste Rule.
Mercury is a naturally occurring element commonly used by lamp
manufacturers to increase the energy efficiency of the lamps they
produce. Examples of these mercury-containing lamps include familiar
varieties such as the fluorescent lamps commonly found in office
buildings, high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, and mercury vapor
lamps. While mercury is an essential component allowing lamps to
operate more efficiently, it is also hazardous to humans and the
environment, thus EPA categorizes spent mercury-containing lamps as
hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA).
On July 6, 1999, (see 64 FR 36466) mercury-containing lamps were
added to EPA's Universal Waste program. This program, created in 1995,
(see 60 FR 25492, May 11, 1995) eases the regulatory burden on
facilities that manage certain widely generated hazardous wastes, known
as universal waste. The program was designed to promote the collection
and recycling of these wastes. It is important that mercury-containing
wastes are properly managed since incorrect disposal of these wastes
can seriously threaten the health of citizens, the environment, and
wildlife. Repeated exposure to large amounts of mercury can cause
kidney, and nerve damage in adults and children, and neurological
damage in developing fetuses. Unfortunately, many members of the
industrial and commercial community do not realize that the lamps in
their buildings pose such a threat, and they are unaware of acceptable
methods for disposing of their lamps. As a result, illegal dumping of
this hazardous waste is common. To address this issue, EPA's Lamp

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Recycling Outreach Program was given funds to award to organizations
creating and implementing outreach programs that educate the commercial
community about the nature of mercury-containing lamps and their proper
disposal.