The number one reason we recycle bulbs is to prevent the Mercury in the bulbs from entering a landfill.  Also, if the  bulb contains high levels of Mercury, we would be in violation of EPA waste disposal regulations.  Since about 2007, NIU has switched to using lower Mercury bulbs to comply with Illinois Law requirements.

• Light Bulbs are changed and collected by building services workers
• Recycling Services picks up full used light bulb boxes from buildings and delivers them to Environmental Health and Safety.
• James Gable, Chemical Safety Coordinator, sorts the bulbs and prepares them for shipping
• Bulbs are sent to Fluorocycle in Ingleside, IL
• Fluorecycle crushes the bulbs to remove Mercury and other harmful chemicals
• Glass and aluminum from the bulbs is then recycled

NIU recycles light bulbs through Fluorecycle located in Ingleside, Il.  Here, they crush the bulbs and remove the Mercury and any other toxic metals.  Then, they recycle the glass and aluminum from the bulbs.