Despite batteries being a federally regulated universal waste, recycling of the different chemistries is far from universal. While federal regulations, additional state requirements, and producer involvement have contributed greatly to successes such as lead-acid battery recycling, there are other areas that still need improvement. Consumers are still unaware of certain recycling efforts for batteries and […]

If you haven’t heard her barking when we’re on the phone, then you haven’t been introduced to Sadie. She is our resident Golden Retriever Recycler. Let’s be honest, she’s basically the boss around here. So when she’s not “hounding” us for biscuits, Sadie is offering sage wisdom about everything “paw-sable” with universal waste. Some of […]

It’s far easier to get fined for improper universal waste storage than you might realize. When it comes to packaging mercury containing lamps we’ve seen it all: missing lids, utilizing the wrong container size, someone trying to store bulbs in an old suitcase, and even tubes hanging off the back of a truck like lumber. […]

Have you ever wondered what it looks like behind the scenes in our processing facility? Let us show you. A large part of the processing facility is where we recycle your bulbs in-house. A look behind the scenes at how NLR processes your lamps and bulbs Phase 1: Linear lamps are fed through our conveyor […]

“The average family has 80 pieces of electronic waste around their home”. – The Verge   “Each US family trashes the equivalent of 400 iphones worth of E-waste a year.”– National Geographic   We must be different right? We recycle Universal Waste for a living. So we tasked one of our employees to look in […]

We’re sure you’ve seen how airlines now handle lithium ion batteries. But did you know battery fires can easily happen in your warehouses or on trucks transporting your universal waste? Short circuits that cause fires can happen when batteries are stored or shipped in a non-compliant way. Don’t let non-compliant batteries be a fire starter. […]

1. What’s your info? One of the first things we’ll ask when you’re on the phone is “can I have the name of your company?” We’re looking to search our systems for the pick-up site (the generator) and the billing contact (bill to). Having these pieces of information straight are important for the pick-up, generating […]

1. Mercury Mercury is found in a number of universal wastes that you recycle. It can be found in fluorescent lamps, mercury containing devices, and even some button batteries. Improper disposal of these wastes can cause contamination of our water supply. Mercury can end up both in the drinking water and in fish, where it […]

Compiled from statistics compiled by United Nations University and EPA. Reports exclude certain universal waste statistics including lighting ballasts, mercury containing devices, and certain battery chemistries. Sources: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/tca-wer120817.php https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials

Chances are if you haven’t already undergone a lighting retrofit, you will in the coming years. As LED’s continue to make strides in energy efficiency, lighting quality, and cost-effectiveness, they are fast replacing the fluorescent bulbs of old. They’re very different than fluorescents, but still should be recycled to help reduce waste. So we’re here […]