Recycling fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lamps

For years fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps and other mercury-bearing waste products have been discarded without much thought. Due to documented increases of atmospheric mercury deposition, researchers were prompted to investigate the sources of mercury in the environment and to propose measures that will reduce the overall annual releases of mercury to the environment. This article provides information about mercury's behavior in the environment; sources of mercury in the solid waste stream; and current efforts to reduce the amount of mercury entering the environment from fluorescent and HID lamps.