Fluorescent lamps, which contain mercury in order to operate, generally fail the Toxic Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established TCLP in 1990 to measure substances that might dissolve into the ecosystem, including mercury. The EPA in July 1994 indicated that spent fluorescent lamps must be treated as hazardous waste if they failed the TCLP test. Spent lamps must be taken either to recycling facilities or disposed of at a hazardous waste site. Waste characterization utilizing TCLP is the responsibility of end users, and disposal regulations may differ from state to state.
For the past 15 years, there has been industry-wide agreement on the importance of mercury reduction and some significant progress has been made. As you can see by the statistics (see graph) provided by The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the industry average for mercury in a standard 4-foot 40-watt T-12 lamp has been reduced from 48.2 milligrams in 1985 to 22.8 milligrams in 1994.
| As impressive as the reduction has been, lamps with 22.8 milligrams of mercury still do not pass the TCLP test. Barriers exist for further improvements toward mercury reduction. Philips Lighting has pioneered key achievements in further progress of mercury reduction. |  |
The first step in reducing the criteria level of mercury is to have greater control over the precise amount injected into the lamp.To implement a more precise mercury dose, Philips invented and patented an off-line mercury capsule injection system to deliver a metered amount of mercury into each lamp.
Next, the capsules are mounted in the lamp and are only activated when the lamp proves to be hermetically sealed. This method is an integrated part of the process to standardize the quantities of mercury in each lamp. Once we were able to pinpoint the fate of mercury throughout the lamp life and standardize the dosing, Philips experimented with decreased mercury levels. After four years if research and testing, Philips has implemented an exclusive new technology that employs buffers which reduce mercury loss mechanisms. This allows us to offer ALTO Lamp Technology.
In development for more than 4 years, Philips' ALTO lamp technology employs a new capsule injection dosing system to deliver significantly less than 10mg of mercury. This is a dramatic improvement in comparison with the industry average for mercury content in a 40-watt T-12 fluorescent lamp of 22.8mg.
After years of testing lamps, many operating to the end of their lives, Philips concluded that the entire population of ALTO lamps meet the statistical requirements outlined by the Federal Government. In other words, ALTO fluorescent lamps meet the EPA's TCLP requirements.
