Air Cycle Launches New E-Newsletter

In an effort to best communicate new products, services, regulations, and company news Air Cycle has developed an e-newsletter that will be sent out on a quarterly basis for your review.

Air Cycle Introduces New and Improved Bulb Eater™

The "Premium" Bulb Eater™ system not only crushes spent fluorescent lamps of any length into 100% recyclable material, but also captures over 99.99% of the vapors released! The system, which is mounted to a 55-gallon container, can hold up to 1350 4' fluorescent lamps.

A three-stage filtering process removes hazardous particulates and gases. A recent study showed non-detectable levels of escaped mercury vapor even after crushing 1500 lamps. A new safety control panel has also been added, giving the operator added security by monitoring seven aspects of the machine to better ensure operator safety.

In addition to providing EPA and OSHA compliance, the Bulb Eater™ frees up valuable storage space normally filled with boxes of spent whole lamps, reduces handling and related labor costs, and typically cuts recycling costs by 50% or more.

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Crunch! Lamp Crushing and Recycling Reduces Risk, Space and Labor

by Chris Sanford

As facility managers seek increased energy efficiency, they often retrofit whole lighting systems at once, replacing spent or nearspent bulbs with new, longerlasting fluorescents. While this increases efficiency, it also adds to the waste stream and storage needs of recyclable material.

Traditionally, the handling of spent lamps during disposal has lent itself to potential injury from smashing, either accidentally or by design. A fluorescent lamp which is dropped, knocked, smashed with a hammer or thrown into a dumpster can shower glass fragments up to several feet away.

And the release of mercury vapor to the environment, which results from smashing, is a substantial risk to human health. Temporary packaging of the glass shards and metal fragments in lightweight garbage bags may also subject people to injury should the bag break. Proper packaging and recycling of the lamps will greatly reduce the mercury problem and create a much safer environment.

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