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.
____________________
Midwest’s business
plan is
straight forward; Keep Business Recycling
SIMPLE AFFORDABLE convenient
“The Preferred Recycler of Business” compliments 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.
____________________
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 compliments 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.
____________________
Web Site Features:
- Understandable waste description and
recycling requirements
- Packaging and Handling Instructions
- Proper Labeling including Label Library
- Bill of Lading
____________________
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’ (hazardous waste) 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
View - Copy - Print the labels in these
formats:
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 or tank for:
o
Employees
o
Emergency response personnel
o
The public
·
If a label can not be seen, turn the container so it can.
·
If it is not legible, get a new one.
·
Labels don't need to be printed in color (unless
indicated otherwise)
·
Contact Midwest
for all labeling requirements
Attaching the Label
- Print a label
- Attach it to the
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 labels to containers.
Not
sure how to label, identify a waste, recycling protocol or requirements; Midwest has you covered…
STAY SAFE, STAY CORRECT Call Midwest
LABEL / Universal Waste /
Accumulation / Lamps

LABEL / Universal Waste /
Accumulation / Batteries

LABEL / Universal Waste /
Accumulation / Mercury Devices

LABEL / Universal Waste /
Accumulation / Thermostats

LABEL / Universal Waste

LABEL / Universal Waste

LABEL / Non-Hazardous Waste

LABEL / Used Batteries

LABEL / Used Oil

LABEL / Used Antifreeze

LABEL / Hazardous Waste / Work
Place Accumulation

LABEL / Hazardous Waste / Work
Place Accumulation / Basic

LABEL / Hazardous Waste

LABEL / Hazardous Waste / PCB /
Ballasts

LABEL / Dangerous Goods

LABEL / Corrosive
