Got Florescent Tubes?

Got Mercury. What will you do with your elemental mercury come January 1, 2013?

Four years ago, with all the best of intentions, Congress passed the Federal Mercury Export Ban Act (MEBA). The MEBA was meant to protect people in third world countries, where mercury is used in mining and other industries with little attention paid to the health and safety of the workers Thus, come January 1, exporting mercury outside the United States is prohibited.

Currently, much of the recycled mercury from Universal Waste (lamps, computers, switches) finds its way to international destinations. The unintended consequence of the MEBA is that after 2012, the international market will not be available to American recycled mercury. The potential glut of mercury into the domestic market was recognized by the federal government, and the Department of Energy (DOE) was tasked with building and operating permanent storage sites for mercury. However, while locating building sites, construction, and operation of these repositories will take several years, in the meantime, the ban goes into effect January 1, 2013.

How is your universal waste recycler dealing with this problem? AET has anticipated the problem and determined that our partnering processors have the ability to safely store and manage the elemental mercury inventory until the DOE facility comes on line. At AET we are one step ahead, always looking out for our clients’ best interests. Questions? Call your AET technical service representative today.