What are low-mercury lamps?
Some manufacturers of fluorescent tubes produce “low-mercury lamps” that they claim pass the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test for mercury. Under federal regulations, the TCLP determines if a lamp is a hazardous waste. The amount of mercury in a low-mercury bulb can range from 3.5 to 4 milligrams compared to a standard fluorescent bulb which ranges from 8 to 14 milligrams of mercury. These lamps may be identified by green end caps (often referred to as green-tipped lamps), or green etchings on the lamps. EPA encourages the recycling of all mercury-containing lamps, regardless of the mercury content. Some states require that all mercury-containing lamps be recycled or managed as a hazardous waste, regardless of the mercury content. For information specific to your state, contact your state environmental regulatory agency.
