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Introduction:

Midwest Lamp Recycling, LLC grew out of a business consortium contract with Midwest’s parent company. Designed and built for business, Midwest Lamp Recycling has become the preferred recycler of business since 1993.

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Midwest’s business plan is straight forward; Keep Business Recycling

SIMPLE AFFORDABLE convenient

“The Preferred Recycler of Business” complements 15 years of great service and several patents. Midwest is a full service recycling company specializing in:

Fluorescent lamp recycling
Battery recycling
Electronic and Computer waste recycling
PCB disposal
Hazardous waste management
Transportation (normally 3 to 4 business days lead)
Deliver UN DOT Approved packaging directly to your business.

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Federal and state hazardous and universal waste requirements can differ; it can depend on who generates the waste, where the generator is located, and whether or not it is a hazardous waste.

Midwest complements great service with great customer support and an educational Web Site. We feel it is important to educate our Business Clients as it is to deliver excellent service. Always call Midwest when in doubt.

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Web Site Features:

Understandable waste description and recycling requirements
Packaging and Handling Instructions
Proper Labeling including Label Library
Bill of Lading

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Midwest keeps its clients

Safe, Compliant, Educated, Efficient, and Cost Effective

Now… What can Midwest Do For You

Fluorescent Light Bulb Recycling

Referencing 40 CFR 261.24, fluorescent lamps contain enough mercury to be considered a hazardous waste. If land filled, mercury migrates into the air and groundwater supplies becoming an environmental hazard. Recycling fluorescent bulbs save landfill space, and prevent toxic material from harming the environment.

Midwest provides lamp recycling solutions that are second to none. Our facility accepts intact and pre-crushed lamps of all sizes and types. Midwest accompanies a certificate of recycling with all invoices.

Midwest accepts complete lighting systems and fixtures for recycling. Midwest dismantles and recycles your lighting equipment and furnishes a certificate of recycling for the whole assembly.

Midwest recycles any lamp you have:

Fluorescent Tubes (all lengths and diameters)
Plastic Coated and Shatter shield
Compact Fluorescent (with and without ballast)
Circular Fluorescent
U-Bend Fluorescent
Biax
Ultra Violet (UV)
Flood Lamps
Incandescent
Halogen
Neon, Argon and other Cold Cathode
High Intensity Discharge (Bi-Metal, Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium)

Green Tip Lamps

The so said "environmentally friendly" green tip lamps contain levels of mercury that would fail the TCLP rendering it a hazardous waste. However, the lamp manufacturers place agents in the lamp that prevent the mercury from showing up during the TCLP. Green tip lamps use of buffering agents (in most cases) increase risk to the environment and the generator of the waste.

Have a lighting product you are unsure about risks or recycling requirements…

simplY call Midwest

Ballasts Recycling (PCB)(DEHP)

PCB (Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls) is a group of chemicals banned by EPA due to their toxicity. PCBs are a carcinogen and can cause liver damage and a skin condition “chloracne.” PCBs are regulated under TSCA, the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. PCBs are not a hazardous waste as defined by RCRA but PCBs are regulated for disposal in 40 CFR 761.

Prior to 1978, fluorescent light ballasts were manufactured containing dielectric insulating compounds known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Another harmful chemical (DEHP) was used in the production lighting ballasts until 1985. DEHP is a listed hazardous substance regulated under CERCLA. If generators landfill DEHP containing products and the site requires cleanup the generator will be held liable.

Midwest recycles any PCB / DEHP device you have:

PCB Ballasts
DEHP Ballasts
Non-PCB Ballasts
PCB Oil-Filled Transformers and Equipment
Large & Small Capacitors
PCB Contaminated PPE & Debris
PCB Contaminated Oil
PCB Solids

Have a Ballast or PCB / DEHP hazard… what’s simple, what’s cost effective…

ONLY ONE call; Midwest

Battery Recycling

The Resource Conservation Act (RCRA) guidelines 40 CFR 261 - 268 regulate the disposal of batteries. Once removed from service, a battery is classified as a hazardous waste due to its corrosiveness, reactivity, and toxicity. The Universal Waste Rule (UWR) allows a simple recycling protocol for battery recycling.

Batteries contain hazardous chemicals and are regulated as Universal Waste. These chemicals contaminate the environment if they are discarded in ordinary trash and not recycled. Companies are looking for solutions to properly handle this relatively small but regulated waste stream.

Batteries that are managed as a hazardous waste can be managed as a universal waste if destined for recycling. Generators can opt to manage all batteries as universal waste and lead-acid batteries can be managed as a recyclable material.

Midwest recycles any battery you have:

Alkaline
Carbon Zinc
Nickel Cadmium - Dry or Wet
Nickel Iron
Nickel Metal Hydride
Lead Acid – Dry or Wet – any size
Mercury
Lithium
Lithium-Ion
Silver Oxide
Silver Zinc
Magnesium

Have a battery missing its nomenclature; unsure about the chemistry… recycling requirements…

simplY call Midwest

Electronic and CRT Recycling

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cautions that end-of-life electronics pose serious issues regarding improper disposal of electronic waste and its’ environmental consequences. Monitors’ cathode ray tubes (CRT) contain lead, phosphorous, cadmium and mercury. The glass screen contains lead-bearing particles.

Midwest offers affordable recycling services for computers/electronics, cathode-ray tubes (CRT's), printers, circuit boards, back up systems along with the myriad of industrial electronic waste streams.

Midwest de-manufactures equipment into its core components; Plastic, Metal, High and Low grade electronic circuit boards, wire, hard drives, floppy drives... CRT's and other electronic equipment contain high levels of lead and other heavy metals. Recycling is not optional on some waste streams now that all states regulate the disposal of CRTs.

Midwest provides certified destruction of your hard-drives and other confidential equipment if requested

Midwest recycles any electronic waste stream you have:

Industrial Electronics (switch gear, servo drives, controllers…)
CPUs
Workstations
Computer Components (including circuit boards, memory, etc.)
Keyboards, Mice and other Peripherals
Network servers
CRT/LCD Monitors
Televisions
Power, Data and Other Cabling
Backup Power Supply/UPS Systems.
Telecom Systems & Components
Two-Way Radios
Mobile Phones
Printers, Fax Machines, Photocopiers
Consumer Electronics
Circuit Boards

Secure destruction services are available to clients recycling equipment containing sensitive information

Electronic devices piling up… unsure about recycling requirements…

call Midwest

Mercury Device Recycling

EPA Land-Disposal Restrictions mandate that all waste streams containing mercury at levels greater than 260mg/kg be retorted or IMERC (incineration.) Due to subsequent environmental liability, retort is the best option. Incineration of mercury waste is far more expensive than retort

Landfill-banned devices are in use everywhere in near everything. While it’s important to know which devices are subject to “Universal Waste” management, it is crucial mercury waste is stored, labeled and transported in compliance to applicable local, state and federal regulations.

Wall-mounted mercury thermostats, thermometers and mercury switches are more common mercury devices. These “common mercury devices” are major sources of mercury in the solid waste stream.

Today’s technology enables this waste stream to be recycled properly and affordably. Midwest ensures the latest processes and technology are used for safe storage, transport and recycling of these components.

Midwest recycles any mercury device you have:

Batteries
Contaminated PPE
Esophageal tubes
Filters
Gauges
Manometers
Medical Equipment
Meters
Rectifiers
Regulators
Relays
Switches
Spill Cleanup Material
Sphygmomanometers
Thermocouples
Thermometers
Thermostats

Old mercury device with no name… what precautions… what is cost effective and safe…

call Midwest Now

Packaging and Handling

FLUORESCENT LAMP

DO NOT…
- Break or crush lamps
- Stack boxes over 5 ft high
- Tape lamps together
- Place Differing length lamps in the same box
Waste lamps can be stored and shipped in the original manufactures packaging or in boxes of like or greater strength and size
Pack lamps in a way to protect them from breakage
Avoid packing too many lamps in a box however tight packing reduces breakage
Reusable corrugated containers for 4-foot and 8-foot lamps are available from Midwest
Affix ‘Universal Waste’ (white) label. Affix ‘Class 9’ label (black and white diamond shaped) with black and white bars pointing up
- ALL CONTROLLED WASTE MUST BE LABELED IN CLEAR SIGHT
- DO NOT get sighted for failing to label a controlled waste
Store spent lamps in a clean, dry, safe place out of traffic

4-Foot Lamps:

Approximately 35 four-foot lamps will fit into a standard manufacturers’ T-12 shipping box
When full, close and tape the end to prevent lamps from sliding out of the box
Stack boxes of lamps on standard wooden shipping pallet five boxes across and no more than six boxes high (Limiting stacking height to six tiers prevents crushing lamps on the bottom tier)
Place less than full boxes on the top tier to prevent crushing less than full boxes on lower tiers
Each tier of filled boxes should be stacked perpendicular to the preceding tier if shrink wrap is not to be used
Secure to shipping pallet with shrink wrap or other suitable medium

8-Foot Lamps:

Approximately 17 eight-foot lamps will fit into a standard manufacturers T-12 shipping box
Handle and stack in the same manner as with four-foot lamps

Compacts / “U” Bend / Circuline:

Waste lamps can be stored and shipped in the original manufactures packaging or in boxes of like or greater strength and size
Place crumpled paper in bottom and top of box with sufficient cushion on all sides
Tape box and secure to shipping pallet with shrink wrap or other suitable medium

Crushed Lamp waste:

Place and seal in a heavy plastic bag inside a rigid container

HID / INCANDESCENT LAMP

DO NOT BREAK LAMPS
Carefully place lamps back into original manufacturers’ box or in boxes of like or greater strength and size
Tape boxes closed
Affix ‘Universal Waste’ (white) label to the drum. Affix ‘Class 9’ label (black and white diamond shaped) with black and white bars pointing up

BALLASTS

Separate Non-PCB ballast from PCB ballast
- Non-PCB will have “Non-PCB’ or “No-PCBs” printed on the label
- If label does not have “Non-PCB” or “No PCB” printed on it or the label is missing, the ballast must be assumed to containing PCB
Pack PCB-containing ballast in an USDOT approved 1AY200 (17H) steel bolt lock top drum
Pack known Non-PCB ballasts in an USDOT approved steel drum
Pack drums no more than ¾ full or up to 750 pounds (approximately 200 F40 ballasts)
Affix ‘PCB’ (blue) or ‘Non-PCB’ (green) labels and ‘Class 9’ (black and white diamond shaped) labels to drums

BATTERIES

Separate and pack batteries by type; NiCad, lithium, metal hydride, lead acid, alkaline, etc. when ever possible (Midwest can sort at recycling)
Tape contacts to prevent arcing
Pack wet batteries in plastic drums or buckets
- Wet batteries too large to fit in drums should be secured to spill pallets for transport
- If the batteries are contained within an outer steel box such as those used in forklifts, etc, they may be transported on regular shipping pallets of sufficient strength to support the weight
- Seal lids to prevent water entering the drum or bucket
Packing dry batteries in double corrugated containers is acceptable
Affix ‘Universal Waste’ (white) label and ‘Class 8’ label

ELECTRONICS

Electronic items may be palletized and secured with shrink wrap
Electronic items may be shipped in cubic yard boxes

MERCURY DEVICES

Mercury devices must be contained in a sealed container or drum
Affix ‘Universal Waste’ (white) label to the drum. Affix ‘Class 9’ label (black and white diamond shaped) with black and white bars pointing up

Have Shipping or Labeling questions; what correct or what’s the cost effective recycling solution…

call Midwest NOW

Labels

Download "Bill of Lading" XLS

Download "Bill of Lading" PDF

View - Copy - Print the labels in these formats:

Cut and Paste image (jpg) from web site
Photocopy the brochure
Download PDF image. Click on sign title

Labeling Requirements:

While waste is being held on site, each container and tank MUST have clearly legible and visible markings

The date the accumulation started
The words "dangerous waste", or "hazardous waste"
The major risk(s) associated with the waste in the container for:
* Employees
* Emergency response personnel
* The public
If the label is not visible turn the container so it is
If the label is not legible get a new one
Labels don't need to be printed in color (unless otherwise indicated)
Contact Midwest for all labeling requirements

Attaching the Label

Print a label
Attach label to container
Laminating or covering the label with clear plastic will help it last longer
You can use magnetic strips to attach labels to metal drums, tape on other containers