Fluorescent bulbs are lighting our world every where we work, and play. We see these bright, cool-burning lamps in our schools, stores, court rooms, hospitals, office buildings and even in the capitol of the United States! What most people don't realize is that these once thought to be harmless bulbs are indeed harmful not only to humans, but other living creatures and the environment, if not disposed of properly. Fluorescent bulbs do offer great environmental advantages; they convert electricity into illumination three to five times as efficiently as incandescent lights, thus using less energy, lamp life is longer, and with improved technology these once eye-irritating lamps are now preferred for use anywhere incandescent light have been used. Although fluorescent bulbs offer tremendous advantages to businesses and the environment by lowering energy consumption, they still contain items such as fluorine, neon, lead powder, and the toxic heavy metal, Mercury, which can leach out of landfills and poison our drinking water, soil, and add toxic fumes to the air we breathe.

Typically in the past people dispose of fluorescent bulbs by simply "throwing them in the garbage". This once acceptable practice is no longer acceptable for businesses under most local, county, and state regulations. Many states nationwide are enforcing laws prohibiting businesses to dispose of fluorescent light bulbs by simply utilizing the municipal trash. For example, the state of Illinois is encouraging business owners to properly recycle waste lamps by allowing shippers to consider fluorescent lamps as universal wastes: meaning a hazardous waste manifest is not needed. New York states that due to the difficulty in determining which bulbs are considered "hazardous", all are considered hazardous due to the typically found Mercury content within these bulbs and are not to be disposed of with the regular trash. In the extremely environmentally conscious state of California, businesses as well as residents are requested to start recycling fluorescent bulbs starting February 9, 2006. In the states, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, it is unlawful for anyone to dispose of fluorescent bulbs as universal waste. Yet, while regulatory agencies try to enforce laws upon businesses and in some instances residents as well, many people still see the regular trash as a way to cheaply and quickly dispose of these bulbs without all the hassle. University of Illinois at Springfield states, "People need to understand that these bulbs are considered "hazardous" and can cause long term damage, not only to the environment, but if broken, can cause health problems in people as well.

We as a society need to understand that simply disposing of these types of items that are known to create issues with the environment as well as ourselves cannot simply be disposed of into an area (landfills) where animals are known to habitat, rainwater can cause leaching into the groundwater affecting our drinking water supply, and wind can carry toxic fumes into our neighborhoods. It is just entirely a bad situation to create.

MDS Inc. can offer you an easy way to properly dispose of your fluorescent light bulbs and keep you in compliance with regulations related to fluorescent bulb disposal not to mention not further harming the environment. MDS Inc. uses only licensed and approved treatment facilities who will recycle your light bulbs in an environmentally friendly manner. We can offer you pricing on a per bulb basis with no transportation charge, We can also offer you supplies needed to properly transport these bulbs. MDS Inc. wants you to do your part to keep America beautiful!