USHIO America, Inc. is proud to announce its association with Veolia Environmental Services, the largest lamp and ballast recycler in the United States, to provide environmentally responsible recycling alternatives. RECYCLEPAK lamp and ballast recycling kits are now available to our customers through the USHIO America website.
Proper recycling is easy with RECYCLEPAK.

  • Recycle large or small quantities
  • Comply with changing regulations
  • RECYCLEPAK prepaid packaging allows you to conveniently manage lighting waste
  • One price includes everything you need – packaging, freight, insurance, liability protection and certificates of recycling.


Simply fill, seal and return via the prepaid shipping label. Your boxes, drums or pails will be delivered to one of four fully permitted Veolia recycling facilities, where your waste will be recycled to the highest standards in the industry. That’s compliance with confidence!

Veolia Partnership

USHIO America, a leader in the specialty lighting marketplace, has entered into a partnership agreement with Veolia Environmental Services, a leader in lamp and ballast recycling, to offer environmental solutions to all USHIO America’s customers. USHIO America is pleased to be able to refer customers interested in lamp and ballast recycling to Veolia, an acknowledged industry leader in the field.

“USHIO has long encouraged lamp and ballast recycling as a way of protecting our environment and ensuring the safety of our earth’s precious natural resources,” said Frank Grobmeier, Sr. Product Market Manager for USHIO America. “By offering our customers one of the easiest ways to recycle spent lamps and ballasts USHIO is taking the next step in our environmental stewardship.”

USHIO understands the need for making recycling quick and easy for the distributor, OEM and end user. That’s why we believe the RECYCLEPAK product offers the most promising option for increasing the number of lamps safely recycled in the US.

Veolia Environmental Services is the world’s largest waste services company. They have the capability to process up to 250,000 lamps per day and have 150 years of experience delivering environmental solutions. Veolia’s recycling centers are routinely audited and certified and all documentation is verified to assure compliance.

USHIO is very proud of its partnership with Veolia Environmental Services and encourages all of our customers to explore RECYCLEPAK options or talk to Veolia directly about becoming a RECYCLEPAK distributor. Just be sure to tell them that you’re an USHIO customer.

Environmental Sustainability Pledge

Being a “green” company is much more than a slogan to USHIO America, Inc. Through a strong corporate commitment USHIO America’s General Lighting Division is proud to introduce its ESP Initiative (Environmental Sustainability Pledge).
Pledge:

  • Introduce and promote products that are environmentally-friendly and energy efficient.
  • Continue to reduce mercury levels in all lamp products.
  • Extend life and improve efficiencies of lamp products.
  • Phase out all non-halogen incandescent lamp sources by end of 2010.
  • Reduce and improve product packaging for environmental sustainability.
  • Promote use of web-based and electronic literature to reduce amount of paper consumed.
  • Set a goal of 100% compliance of ISO4001 environmental standards by all manufacturing facilities in the next 5 years.
  • Reduce the global carbon footprint through sustainable initiatives.
    We encourage all of our lighting partners to join us in promoting environmental, sustainable lighting goals.

Lamp Recycling FAQ

Why should I recycle lamps?
Some lamps contain a small amount of mercury or other materials that may be considered hazardous or universal waste. The best way to avoid these materials from entering the waste stream and having a negative impact on our environment is to recycle them.

Recycling reduces the potential for future liability as most lighting waste is regulated by the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TCSA), the Superfund liability laws and the Universal Waste Rule. Regulations require that hazardous waste must be properly identified, stored, transported, treated and disposed and that generators are financially responsible for cleaning up the effects of improper disposal. The Universal Waste Rule is designed to promote and simplify the proper management and recycling of certain lighting wastes.

Can’t I just throw the used lamps in the trash?
Lamps that are thrown in the trash end up being sent to a landfill or incinerated. These disposal methods could lead to the materials such as mercury being released into the environment. According to industry sources almost 700 million fluorescent lamps alone are thrown in the trash each year in the United States. This creates up to 4 tons of mercury each year being released into the environment.

Many federal and state laws actually require recycling of certain lamps.

So, recycling is not only an environmentally responsible action it may be the law.

Which lamps should be recycled?
Many federal and state laws require users to properly recycle spent lamps. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association has created an interactive map that supplies current mercury-containing product legislation by state. It can be found here

What is a RECYCLEPAK?
RECYCLEPAK is a quick and easy way to recycle lamps and ballasts. One price includes the shipping of packaging materials to you, the return shipping and the recycling services. Veolia will also send you a certificate of recycling to confirm your waste was recycled in accordance with Federal and state regulations.

Why can’t I just send them in their existing packages?
RECYCLEPAK return shipping containers have been tested and approved at an independent testing laboratory to determine compliance with applicable sections of 49 CFR pertaining to the safe transport of dangerous goods- Packaging Group III. The RECYCLEPAK lamp recycling boxes have gone through repetitive shock vibration tests, free fall drop tests, stacking tests and even water absorption tests. These extra steps are taken to ensure your materials are contained properly during shipment in order to minimize liability. Furthermore, all shipping carriers require these materials be shipped following certain guidelines and in some cases include additional containment mechanisms such as a poly liner. Lastly, regulations and labeling requirements vary by state. Existing manufacturer boxes my not include all or any of the above items.

Do I have to order RECYCLEPAK on the web or can I place an order over the phone?
You have the option of placing an order for RECYCLEPAKon the web or you can feel free to place an order over the phone by calling 1-888-669-9725 and say “I’m an USHIO customer.”

Who do I contact if I have more questions?
Questions regarding lamp recycling or RECYCLEPAK should be directed to Veolia Environmental Services customer service department at 888-669-9725. If you have any questions about USHIO lamp products or specifications you are welcome to contact USHIO’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-838-7446.

Who is Veolia?
Veolia Environmental Services is the world’s largest waste services company. They have the capability to process up to 250,000 lamps per day and have 150 years of experience delivering environmental solutions. Veolia’s recycling centers are routinely audited and certified and all documentation is verified to assure compliance.

What is Veolia’s relationship with USHIO?
USHIO America, a leader in the specialty lighting marketplace, has entered into a partnership agreement with Veolia Environmental Services, a leader in lamp and ballast recycling, to offer environmental solutions to all USHIO America’s customers. By offering lamp and ballast recycling, USHIO America now provides all of its customers complete lighting solution packages from light sources to lamp and ballast recycling services.

Do TCLP compliant lamps need to be recycled?
TCLP compliant lamps are lamps found to have low levels of mercury that can leech into the environment, but these lamps do still contain mercury. USHIO continues to recommend that the best method of disposal is recycling.

Can Mercury or other hazardous materials leak out of a lamp?
Mercury can not get into the air or the environment directly from an operating lamp. The mercury inside the lamp may bind to the other materials in the lamp, but it can not leak out. Even in the manufacturing process the mercury is controlled so none of it can be released into the environment. The only way the mercury is released from the lamps into the environment is when the lamps are broken at the end of life. That’s why proper recycling is so critical.

Where can I learn more about mercury and lamps that contain mercury?
www.epa.gov