What can a tanning salon do with spent mercury-containing lamps to dispose of them properly?

Tanning salons, in order to help the environment, should recycle their lamps rather than dispose of them in solid waste municipal landfills. More and more salons are searching for ways to recycle spent lamps in a more ecologically and friendly manner.

With most tanning lamps lasting anywhere from 300 to 1,500 hours, a salon might change its lamps two, three or even four times a year depending on the frequency of the salon's clients. If each tanning bed has lamps changed two or three times per year that adds up to a lot of spent lamps.

Recycling Efforts

There are federal regulations for lamp management and disposal depending upon the quantity of spent lamps generated per month. However, several individual states have enacted stricter requirements. Currently a handful of states--Wisconsin, Minnesota and New Mexico--have led the way in UV lamp recycling programs. Other states including California, Florida and New Jersey have taken a sharper look at lamp recycling.

For example, in Wisconsin, tanning salons are given the choice of having lamps picked up by a local lamp distributor, who might charge $1 to $1.50 per lamp (depending on size of lamp) for removal, or collected by a central recycling company, which might charge a higher rate. If the lamps are picked up by the lamp distributor, the recycling company then comes to the lamp distributor for a bulk pickup.

This process is becoming more cost effective for the salon owner as more local and state government jurisdictions provide convenient drop-off locations. Because tanning bed lamps contain hazardous materials that can become airborne when broken or crushed, lamps should not be placed in the trash for disposal.

Health Hazards

It is not recommended that salon owners and their employees break or crush the lamps themselves. This "do-it-yourself" approach is not the best for the environment and not the safest for the tanning salon owner.

Breaking or crushing lamps comes with some possible health hazards. Overexposure to broken lamps by inhalation, ingestion or contact with the eyes or skin can be hazardous. If a lamp is broken, ventilate the area where breakage occurred. Dust particles of manganese, tin, fluoride-containing dust and glass particles can be released into the air causing irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, respiratory tract, shortness of breath and abdominal pain.

If for any reason you must handle broken lamps, wear a ventilation mask, safety glasses, goggles or a face shield and gloves. Afterward, wash your hands thoroughly before eating, smoking or using toilet facilities. Avoid prolonged or frequent exposure to broken lamps.

Salons Can Make A Difference

Even if your state does not have a recycling program for spent tanning lamps, a responsible salon owner should try to become "earth friendly." Contact your state or local health department or environment agency to see what proper storage, transporting and disposal rules apply to your tanning salon based on its size and frequency of lamp changes. Tanning salons should find out if they are in violation of any EPA rules in regard to disposing of spent lamps properly.

When lamps are taken to a certified recycling center, all portions are destroyed and recycled. The glass, mercury, lead-oxide, metal ends and prongs of the lamp can all be recycled. Some recycling companies will provide storage containers, schedule pick ups and handle the paperwork involved to recycle your used lamps.

Tanning salons should compare not only the cost of recycling but also compare the end destination of the materials to ensure proper management. Additionally, it is a good idea to request verification from the recycling facility of the technology that will be employed to ensure that the materials are managed properly.