Technician placing fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs into protected recycling containers

EPA-Compliant Processing

Fluorescent Lamp Recycling — Free Pickup for 10+ Cases

Name: AVA Recycling
Address: 135 Laura Dr, Addison, IL, 60101, US
Telephone: 866-770-2650

Mercury-containing lamps are regulated in Illinois — they can't go in the trash. We provide EPA-compliant recycling with free pickup for qualifying commercial loads and LEED-ready certificates.

Schedule Lamp Pickup Get a Quote

EPA compliantMercury-safe processing

Free pickup10+ case commercial loads

LEED certificatesCarbon data included

Licensed handlerIllinois IEPA compliant

Why It's Regulated

The mercury in your fluorescent lamps is federally regulated — and cannot go in the trash

Illinois law prohibits disposing of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps in the regular waste stream for covered generators. The same element that makes fluorescent lighting energy-efficient — mercury — is a regulated hazardous substance that requires licensed handling at end of life. Property managers, facility directors, and maintenance teams face real compliance exposure when lamps go in the dumpster.

AVA Recycling provides free pickup for qualifying loads of 10 or more cases from commercial and industrial facilities across the Chicago metro area. We accept the full range of fluorescent lamp types — T5, T8, and T12 tubes; compact fluorescents; HID and high-pressure sodium lamps; and ballasts including PCB-containing units that require special handling under TSCA.

Every pickup includes a certificate of recycling with weight and carbon emissions data — formatted for LEED credit reporting and for demonstrating responsible materials management to building owners, tenants, and sustainability auditors.

Commercial electronics staged inside AVA Recycling's processing facility

For Facilities & Property Teams

Plan the lighting changeout from storage to certificate

The right lamp-recycling workflow protects workers, separates regulated materials, and produces useful sustainability records.

Sort the lamp load before it becomes a compliance problem

Commercial lighting projects commonly produce a mixed stream: fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs, HID lamps, high-pressure sodium lamps, metal-halide lamps, and ballasts. Those materials should not be treated as ordinary glass or scrap. Separating lamp types and identifying PCB-containing ballasts at the start helps the project move safely and keeps the manifest and recycling certificate accurate.

Maintenance teams do not need to create a perfect technical sort before calling. Give us the facility type, approximate case count, lamp types if known, and whether ballasts are included. We can help plan containers and pickup logistics for a lighting retrofit, warehouse cleanout, property turnover, or recurring facilities program.

T5, T8, T12, CFL, HID, sodium, and metal-halide lamps
PCB and non-PCB ballasts handled through the appropriate channel
Packaging guidance to reduce breakage during staging and transport

Documentation for LEED and sustainability reporting

A responsible lamp program should leave more than an empty storage room. The certificate of recycling records the material collected and supports the building's environmental reporting. Weight, lamp categories, and carbon-savings information can be retained with a LEED submission, annual ESG report, capital-project closeout, or internal waste-diversion dashboard.

For property managers, recurring pickups create a consistent record across tenants and service dates. A building can use collection bins or a scheduled project pickup depending on volume. Keeping lamp recycling separate from general e-waste makes the resulting data easier to explain to a consultant, owner, tenant, or auditor.

Certificates formatted for facility and LEED documentation
Recurring pickup options for multi-tenant properties
Licensed downstream processing rather than landfill disposal

Lighting Retrofit Planning

A lamp program that protects the jobsite and the reporting file

The professional difference is in the details: safe staging, accurate material identification, compliant processing, and records that remain useful after the retrofit.

Stage the lighting project safely

Choose a dry, protected staging area away from traffic, forklifts, and ordinary waste containers. Keep lamps in the appropriate cases or containers and avoid stacking practices that increase breakage. If a tube is already broken, isolate the area and tell the project coordinator before moving the material.

A retrofit contractor can stage removed lamps by building or work area, but the overall load should remain clearly identified as regulated lamp material. That makes the handoff easier to inspect and reduces the chance that tubes are mixed with glass or scrap.

Identify ballasts and lamp types

A case count is useful, but the project is easier to plan when the team also notes T5, T8, T12, CFL, HID, sodium, or metal-halide lamps and whether ballasts are included. PCB-containing ballasts need a different compliance pathway from ordinary non-PCB units.

When the exact type is unknown, provide photos or a sample description rather than guessing. Accurate information supports the right packaging, paperwork, and downstream route without requiring a facilities employee to become a hazardous-materials specialist.

Choose one-time or recurring service

A lighting changeout may need one large pickup, while an occupied office or multi-tenant building may benefit from recurring collection. Free pickup is available for qualifying commercial loads, and smaller quantities can use an Addison drop-off or participating location where appropriate.

Property managers should consider tenant turnover, maintenance schedules, storage capacity, and the number of service calls expected each quarter. A predictable cadence keeps lamps from accumulating in mechanical rooms and gives the building a steady reporting record.

Retain the environmental record

Keep the certificate with the work order, lighting retrofit records, and building sustainability file. Weight, material categories, and carbon-savings information make the certificate more useful than a simple receipt because the data can support LEED, ESG, owner, and tenant reporting.

If a project includes general e-waste, batteries, or tritium signs, identify those streams separately. One coordinated vendor may be able to handle the project, but each regulated material still needs its own appropriate processing route and record.

Staging & Collection

Keep lamp cases intact from the changeout to pickup

A protected, clearly marked staging area makes the lighting contractor's work safer and the recycling record more accurate.

Keep cases dry, upright, and away from forklift traffic or ordinary glass containers. If a tube breaks, isolate the area and notify the project coordinator instead of adding the material to a mixed box.

A simple note showing the building, service date, approximate cases, and whether ballasts are included helps the pickup team prepare the appropriate route. The certificate can then reflect the actual material stream rather than a generic waste category.

Palletized electronics and regulated material staged for responsible recycling

The Numbers

What's inside a commercial lamp load

4mg

Mercury per standard T8 fluorescent tube — enough to contaminate 30,000 gallons of water

U.S. EPA — Mercury in Fluorescent Lamps

415 ILCS

Illinois Environmental Protection Act — Section 52.3 bans mercury lamp landfill disposal for covered generators

Illinois Environmental Protection Act, 415 ILCS 5/52.3

100%

Mercury capture rate through licensed EPA-compliant processing — none released to landfill or air

What We Accept

Lamps, Ballasts & Bulbs

Fluorescent Tubes

T5, T8, and T12 fluorescent tubes — the most common type in commercial and industrial facilities.

CFL & HID Lamps

Compact fluorescents, high-pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps handled through EPA-compliant channels.

PCB & Non-PCB Ballasts

PCB-containing ballasts receive specialized regulated disposal with full manifesting and documentation.

LEED Certificates

Every pickup includes a certificate with weight and carbon emissions data for LEED credit documentation.

How It Works

Pickup to certificate — four steps

1
Schedule — pickup for 10+ cases or drop off in Addison
Free pickup is available for loads of 10 or more cases from commercial and industrial facilities in the Chicago metro area. Smaller quantities can be dropped off at our Addison facility or at participating partner locations.
2
Pack — we provide guidance for safe lamp handling
Fluorescent lamps must be packed to prevent breakage during transit. We advise on the right container types and packing approach to keep your staff safe and ensure the lamps arrive intact for processing.
3
Process — EPA-compliant mercury recovery
Lamps are processed through licensed mercury-recovery partners. The mercury is captured and recycled — not released — keeping it out of groundwater and landfills. All processing meets EPA and Illinois IEPA standards.
4
Certify — LEED-ready documentation
You receive a certificate of recycling showing total weight collected, lamp categories, and estimated carbon emissions savings. The format directly supports LEED credit documentation and ESG sustainability reporting.

Common Questions

Lamp Recycling FAQ

Get Started

Recycle Lamps Without the Compliance Headache

EPA-compliant pickup, licensed mercury recovery, and LEED-ready certificates for your facility.

EPA CompliantLEED ReadyPCB Ballasts OK

HIPAA / FACTA Compliant
Free data destruction on pickups
Transparent, upfront pricing

Or call 866-770-2650

Proof of Compliance

Every processed load receives a fully auditable Certificate of Destruction, establishing a clear chain of custody for your compliance records.

CLIENT NOTE

“Pickup was fast, organized, and exactly what our compliance team needed.”

Facilities Manager

Multi-site office campus

CLIENT NOTE

“The certificate trail made LEED reporting simple — all the data was already in the format our consultant needed.”

Operations Director

Property management group

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