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What is in a Fluorescent Lamp?

• A fluorescent lamp consists of a glass shell, a high vacuum,

a small amount of liquid mercury and evaporated mercury,
some phosphor powder, metal end-caps and heated
filaments.
• Fluorescent light is produced by passing an electric current
through mercury vapor, which generates ultraviolet energy.
• A phosphor coating on the inside of the bulb transforms
the ultraviolet energy into visible light.
• A single four-foot fluorescent tube contains
from 5 to 50 milligrams of mercury.

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 Why Recycle Fluorescent Lamps?

Environmental Liability
• Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, a
hazardous compound
• Lamps that are thrown away can leak
mercury into the environment,
contaminating landfills and surrounding
areas
Legal Liability
• Environmental Regulations require
that lamps be recycled It costs roughly $1 to buy a lamp,
$20 to power a lamp, and less than
• Penalties for failing to recycle can 50 cents to recycle it.
result in large fines and negative public
relations
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 Lamp Recycling Options

Three options exist for the recycling of fluorescent lamps:

• Return-by-mail or “Pre-paid” Recycling Boxes
• Bulk Service for the haul away of lamps in boxes or
fiber drums
• Usage of the Bulb Eater for the purpose of having
drums of crushed lamps sent away for recycling

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 What is a Bulb Eater®?

The Bulb Eater® 3L is the next generation of the Bulb

Eater®. The award-winning fluorescent lamp crusher
that helps facilities save time, space, and money over
other bulb disposal solutions.

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 Why Crush Fluorescent Lamps?

Cost Savings
• Recyclers charge significantly less for crushed lamps than whole
lamps
• Crushing lamps is up to 50% less expensive than intact lamp
recycling solutions
Time Savings
• Crushing can reduce labor by 20 hours per 1,000 lamps vs. boxing
lamps for pickup
•Crushing results in lower likelihood of bulb breakage vs. boxing,
meaning less time needed to clean up and dispose of broken bulbs

Space Savings
• Crushing minimizes needed storage space by 80% vs. boxing lamps
for pickup
• One 55 gallon drum can hold up to 1350 4-foot fluorescent lamps

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 Safety Highlights

• Lamps are crushed, filtered, and

sealed in a 55-gallon drum as opposed
to stacking lamps in exposed boxes or
fiber drums
Highest rated commercial-grade HEPA
• No detectable levels of mercury vapor filter available - filters to .3 micron
@99.99% retention.
emitted within the operator’s
breathing zone during crushing
• Sensors alert user when drum is full
• Sensors will not allow crushing unless
there is a perfect seal on the drum
Activated carbon filter removes mercury
vapors released during crushing.
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 Safety Benefits and Features
• Single model that crushes linear, CFL, and U-bend lamps (with Chute added).
• Lower angle entry tube (lower entry height – increased operator comfort)
• Four stage filter system: 1) Cartridge Filter
2) HEPA filter 3) Activated Carbon Filter 4) Final HEPA filter
• Only two hose connections. No casual connections of hoses,
no accidental disconnections
• On-board controls with Intelli Technology
- Multiple sensing points that assist with machine diagnostics and
maintenance/filter change-outs. Eliminates guesswork for filter changes and
insures that the system is operating safely
- LCD display that advertises which mode the machine is in and any defaults
that might occur
• Online Certified Bulb Eater® 3L Training Program
- Insures baseline training level for operators & supervisors

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 Added Features to Bulb Eater® 3L
• Higher motor speed for more consistent lamp waste by weight per drum
• Filtration stage has been added: an additional final HEPA filter – results in finer
filtration
• Higher volume cartridge filter – longer filter life means fewer filter changes
• Ease of handling to speed up filter and drum change-outs
• Steel Housing for Vacuum System
• Welded and bolted connections for improved sealing
• Continuous monitoring of carbon life
• 4’ T12 entry tube supplied with Bulb Eater 3 handles 4’ T5, T8 and T12 lamps as
well as 8’ T12 lamps.

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 Bulb Eater® 3L Filters and Parts

To maximize the capabilities of the Bulb Eater® 3, filters and parts should be
changed according to instructions:
• 1st Stage Cartridge Filter: Filter should be changed approximately every 3
drums of crushed lamps or as needed (when fault code 13 is displayed).
• 2nd Stage HEPA Filter: Filter should be changed approximately every 12
drums of crushed lamps or as needed (when fault code 11 is displayed)
• 3rd Stage Carbon Canister with activated carbon: Life capacity rated at
1500 hrs. of running time (approx. 1 million lamps) (fault code 01 is
displayed)
• 4th Stage Final HEPA Filter: Filter should be changed as needed (fault
code 09 will be displayed)
• Spinner Assembly: Assembly should be changed approximately every
12 drums
• Filter Combo Kit w/ Spinner: Kit contains approx. 12 drums worth of parts
(4 2nd stage cartridge filters, 1 HEPA filter, and 1-8 link spinner assembly)
• Jumbo Filter Combo Kit: Contains (10 Cartridge filters, 2 HEPA filters, and 2-
8 link spinner assemblies)
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 Summary
• The average pickup cost for a full drum of
crushed lamps is $295 plus transportation fees
• 4’ T8 lamps are recycled at an average price of
only $0.21 each
• Crushing minimizes needed storage space by 80%
vs. boxing lamps for pickup
• Crushing can reduce labor by 20 hours
per 1,000 lamps vs. boxing lamps for pickup
• Safer work environment created by
lamps being intentionally crushed,
filtered, and sealed in a drum

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 CONTACT US
ENGR. ALLAN S. BITON
Chief Operations Officer
HgCARE Environmental Engineering Services

Mobile Phone : 09154613989

engrallanbiton@yahoo.com/hgcare@ymail.com