Air Cycle Corp. Blog

Introducing Bulb Eater® Certified Training

2012-02-13T12:18:00.000-08:00

In keeping with our commitment to educating our customers about how best to recycle fluorescent lamps, Air Cycle is pleased to introduce Bulb Eater® Certified Training!

This online training program for Bulb Eater users includes the Bulb Eater owner's manual, a new training video covering machine operations, safety and regulations, and a training quiz and certificate of completion.

We encourage all users of the Bulb Eater to complete the program in order to become fully familiar with all aspects of Bulb Eater safety and operations.

View the training program » Bulb Eater® Certified Training

Unfamiliar with the Bulb Eater® lamp crusher? Find out how it saves facilities dollars, storage space, and labor in this free Bulb Eater case study. Learn more » Bulb Eater lamp crusher or request Bulb Eater pricing

Successful Recycling: A Three-Step Approach

2012-02-07T10:57:00.001-08:00

A recycling program can do a lot for a facility, like bolster the company's "green" image, improve facility safety, and ensure compliance with recycling regulations to minimize the risk of fines.

This article from FacilitiesNet breaks down the implementation of a successful recycling program into three steps: establishing program objectives, conducting a waste audit, and viewing waste as commodity instead of garbage.

Read the article »

A key waste to address with any recycling program is spent fluorescent lamps. All fluorescent lamps contain mercury, and need to be recycled to prevent harm to the environment. Recycling regulations also require lamps to be recycled in many states. Air Cycle solutions make the process simple and fast. Learn how » Air Cycle recycling solutions

New Bulb Eater® Whitepaper for Download

2012-02-01T09:17:00.000-08:00

Crushing spent fluorescent lamps at a facility prior to shipment for processing can be a highly efficient method of recycling them. A new whitepaper from Air Cycle Corporation explains how--with the Bulb Eater®--it can also be a very safe method.

The whitepaper covers Bulb Eater® operations, testing, and transport of crushed lamps, and reviews why recycling lamps to keep mercury out of the environment is so important in the first place.

Download » Bulb Eater® safety whitepaper

Have Something to Say? We Want to Hear It!

2012-01-26T09:02:00.001-08:00

At Air Cycle, we love to know what our customers think about our products and services. We carefully consider all feedback we receive, and utilize it to refine our business and better serve our customers.

If you would like to provide feedback on your experience with Air Cycle, please visit our feedback page and select a survey for Bulb Eater®, EasyPak™, Bulk Pickup, or other option. We would appreciate hearing from you.

T12 Lamp Phase-Out: Managing the Change

2012-01-22T12:08:00.000-08:00

With the upcoming phase-out of many popular T12 lamp variants just months away, many facility managers face a dilemma about how to handle the change.

This article from Main Line Media News covers several possible approaches to dealing with the shift, and highlights the aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits (including a reduction in lighting electricity costs of between 25 and 40 percent) that facility managers can expect from upgrading to a more efficient lighting system.

When old T12s burn out or are replaced in a lighting retrofit, try a simple and efficient Air Cycle recycling solution. Recycling keeps mercury out of the environment and you compliant with environmental regulations. Learn more » Air Cycle recycling solutions

Free Industry Newsletter

2012-01-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Want to keep up with current recycling and lighting trends? Then sign up for the Air Cycle eNewsletter and join nearly 40,000 subscribers for the latest industry news and updates once a month!

When the time comes to recycle wastes, an Air Cycle recycling solution can save time and hassle, and help ensure compliance with recycling regulations. Learn more » Air Cycle solutions

How Not to Crush Spent Light Bulbs...

2011-12-22T11:03:00.000-08:00

While safely crushing and storing spent fluorescent bulbs--and the mercury they contain--can be easy and cost-effective with Air Cycle's Bulb Eater®, there are a few methods of light bulb crushing that should be avoided...

The Bulb Eater® contains 99.99% of mercury vapors released during crushing, well below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) acceptable standard for mercury exposure, while reducing recycling labor and storage requirements. Learn more » Bulb Eater® lamp crusher

New NY Rechargeable Battery Recycling Law

2011-12-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

A New York law went into effect earlier this month that requires manufacturers to collect and recycle rechargeable batteries and bans disposal of such batteries in landfills. The new regulation was signed into law in December of last year and took effect on December 5 of this year. The law also requires recycling for laptop, camera, and cell phone batteries.

Read the regulations »

EasyPak™ mail-in containers make recycling batteries simple. Time-saving EasyPak features include prepaid shipping, online, official Certificates of Recycling, and optional Sustainable Program automatic reordering. Learn more » EasyPak™ recycling containers

Congress Delays Incandescent Light Bulb Ban

2011-12-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

While many facility managers have already phased out incandescent light bulbs in favor of energy-saving fluorescent lamps, any remaining incandescent bulbs will be allowed to remain in use for now, according to this article from the Chicago Tribune. Facility managers who have yet to make the switch in preparation for the ban will have until September 30, 2012, when the reprieve will end.

When compact fluorescent lamps finally do burn out, Air Cycle solutions make recycling them easy and efficient. The Bulb Eater® CFL Premium can safely crush and store up to 3,000 CFLs, while EasyPak™ CFL Recycling Containers make recycling simple for smaller quantities.

Learn more » Air Cycle recycling solutions

How it Works: The Lamp Recycling Process

2011-12-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what happens to all those spent lamps that are shipped from facilities via a Bulb Eater® drum or EasyPak™ container? I did, and learned that in recycling they undergo quite a process of transformation into raw materials for reuse!

First, upon arrival at the recycling center, lamps are automatically fed into pressurized processing machines (which prevent mercury from escaping into the air), while the Bulb Eater drum or EasyPak container is recycled or reused. Next, byproducts like phosphor powder are separated from the glass and metal components, which are stored for reuse. Finally, the mercury is safely isolated and extracted from the other materials. The components are now ready to be turned back into a fluorescent lamp or other product!

View the process step-by-step »

The Bulb Eater® lamp crusher and EasyPak™ mail-in containers make it simple and cost-effective to recycle lamps and other wastes like ballasts, batteries, and electronics, and include time-saving features like visual Recycling Reports and official online Certificates of Recycling. Learn more » Air Cycle recycling solutions

Newsweek Ranks CBRE 2011 Greenest Real Estate Firm

2011-12-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

Newsweek, in its annual Green Rankings, rated CBRE Group, Inc. the greenest real estate company of 2011, according to an article in RealEstateRama. The Green Rankings list measures the environmental performance--based on environmental impact, management and disclosure--of the 500 largest publicly traded companies based in the U.S. This is the fourth year in a row that CBRE has won the top spot among real estate firms.

Air Cycle Corporation is proud to support the green efforts of CBRE by providing simple and cost-effective waste recycling solutions and tracking tools for spent fluorescent lamps, ballasts, batteries, and electronic waste.

Read full article »

Learn more about Air Cycle corporate solutions »

New Department of Energy Lamp Ballast Standards

2011-12-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

In conjunction with the upcoming phase-out of incandescent light bulbs in 2012, the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued revised energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, according to this article from Enviro.BLR.com.

The new standards take effect in January of next year and require increased ballast luminous efficiency (BLE), defined as the ratio of total lamp arc power to ballast input power. According to DOE, the revised requirements will help produce significant energy and monetary savings, resulting in reductions in emissions of pollutants.

Read the article »

EasyPak™ mail-in containers make it simple to recycle spent fluorescent lamps and non-PCB ballasts with cost-saving features like prepaid shipping and optional Sustainable Program automatic container reordering. Learn more » EasyPak™ prepaid recycling containers

Bulb Eater® Comes to Barbadian Shores

2011-11-14T09:33:00.001-08:00

Looks like the Bulb Eater® is taking yet another working vacation. The machine has spent time in Bermuda and aboard an Alaskan cruise ship, but this journey takes it on a lamp-crunching mission to Barbados. The Bulb Eater will be used to properly dispose of spent fluorescent lamps in order to prevent mercury from contaminating the local environment, according to this article in the Barbados Advocate.

“In such a beautiful country as Barbados, we have an opportunity to leapfrog technology that other organisations have developed over the years and make a difference [...] I want to play my part to help our economy and environment,” noted Jim Reid, member of Barbados Renewable Energy Association, which spearheaded the effort to obtain the Bulb Eater.

The Bulb Eater® lamp crusher can reduce the overall costs of recycling large quantities of lamps by up to 50% over other methods, while safely preventing mercury from contaminating the facility or the environment. Learn more » Bulb Eater® lamp crusher

Celebrate America Recycles Day!

2011-11-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, the idea of keeping harmful materials out of the environment can seem like a no-brainer. But many individuals and businesses are still unaware of the negative environmental impacts that can result from throwing away things like old batteries or a spent fluorescent lamp.

On November 15, thousands across the country will act to change that through events celebrating America Recycles Day, a nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting recycling in the United States. Click here to search for events in your area, and take a moment tomorrow to recycle some waste and remind a friend to do the same.

Air Cycle offers simple and cost-effective solutions for recycling spent fluorescent lamps, ballasts, batteries, and electronic waste. Learn more » Air Cycle recycling solutions

Waste Audit Webinar Available to View and Download

2011-11-08T13:50:00.001-08:00

The recent Air Cycle Corporation-sponsored webinar from American School & Hospital Facility, "Waste Stream Auditing: The Science of What's In Your Trash," is now available to view on-demand and download!

Featuring Tom Griffin, director of Greener Results environmental consulting, the free, 45-minute webinar covers how a waste stream audit can help an organization measure current green practices, identify waste regulatory-compliance and cost issues, and guide improvements in sustainability.

Click here to watch now »

Lighting 101: Key Principles

2011-11-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

The goals of a typical lighting system seem straightforward: the facility should be well-lit and energy efficient.

But making it happen can be a challenge. This article from FacilitiesNet provides the key principles to remember when designing a lighting system, in order to turn these goals into reality.

The lamps of even the most efficient lighting system eventually burn out. When they do, efficiently recycle them with the Bulb Eater® lamp crusher, capable of reducing recycling labor requirements by up to 20 hours per 1,000 lamps and storage requirements by up to 80%. Learn more » Bulb Eatery® lamp crusher

Upcoming Free Webinar: Waste Stream Auditing

2011-10-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

Tune in Thursday, November 3 at 1:00 pm EDT for the Air Cycle Corporation-sponsored webinar, "Waste Stream Auditing: The Science of What's in Your Trash," featuring Tom Griffin, director of Greener Results environmental consulting.

Tom will discuss how a waste stream audit can help an organization measure current green practices, identify waste regulatory-compliance and cost issues, and guide improvements in sustainability. Register now!

Date: Thursday, November 3

Time: 1:00 pm EDT

Length: 1 hour

New EasyPak™ Sustainable Program Tool

2011-10-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

The EasyPak™ Sustainable Program has long been the simplest way for facility managers to reorder recycling containers, and the process of starting a program is now even easier with the new Order Conversion tool.

The tool enables a Sustainable Program to be started for any container from a previous order just by clicking the "Make Recurring" button in the Order Details. Learn more » EasyPak™ Order Conversion tool.

Step-by-step instructions for the tool »

Illinois Expands E-Waste Recycling Law

2011-10-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

Effective for calendar year 2012, Amendments to the Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act adds to the list of electronics that are required to be recycled, according to this article from Waste & Recycling News.

The law also increases the and increases the fine for violations of the law from $1,000 to $7,000, according to the article.

Learn more »

The EasyPak™ Electronics Recycling Container from Air Cycle Corporation holds 69 pounds of e-waste, including any electronic components that power on and have any chip or board parts such as computers monitors, telecom gear, fax machines, and televisions. Complimentary online Recycling Reports make it simple to measure recycling impact.

Learn more » EasyPak™ Electronics Recycling Container

Lamp Recycling Regulations Webinar Now Available

2011-10-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

The recent Air Cycle Corporation webinar, "An Introduction to Lamp Recycling Regulations" is now available to view on-demand and download!

Presented by Justin Hayes, account executive at Air Cycle, the free 20-minute webinar covers what lamp recycling regulations are, why lamps should be recycled, and how Air Cycle solutions can help make it simple to recycle lamps and stay compliant.

Click here to watch now »

Trends in Energy-Efficient Lighting

2011-09-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

While efficient day-to-day operations and incremental lighting improvements can go a long way toward minimizing a facility's lighting costs and environmental impact, it helps to keep the big-picture in mind for long-term facility energy-efficiency planning.

A recent report from Pike Research indicates that recent expansion trends in energy-efficient lighting will continue through the next decade, according to a summary from Construtech. Although fluorescent lighting is already very energy-efficient, dimming and other lighting-control technologies will increase, according to the report.

Read the summary »

The cost and environment-saving qualities of fluorescent lighting should be continued after the lamps burn out by recycling them to avoid the risk of costly fines and mercury release. Air Cycle solutions can make it simple and cost-effective. Learn more » Air Cycle lamp recycling solutions

Sustainability: The Great Differentiator

2011-09-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

When a business thinks about going green with its facility operations, an important question is "How much will it cost?" Despite the upfront expenditures that facility greening can require, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that in addition to environmental benefits, sustainable commercial buildings make good business sense, too, according to this article from FMLink.

Difficult economy aside, green operational techniques such as implementing high-efficiency lighting systems and fluorescent lamp recycling programs can generate a financial return in the form of energy savings and a polished "green" image. Read full article »

Air Cycle's Bulk Pickup program and EasyPak™ mail-in containers make it simple for any size facility to go green by recycling spent fluorescent lamps, ballasts, batteries, and electronic waste. Learn more » Air Cycle recycling solutions

Free Webinar: An Introduction to Lamp Recycling Regulations

2011-09-12T08:02:00.001-07:00

Tune in at 12:00 pm CDT on Thursday, September 29 for a free Air Cycle Corporation webinar, "An Introduction to Lamp Recycling Regulations" as Justin Hayes, account executive at Air Cycle, discusses the reasons for lamp recycling regulations, what they mean for facilities, and how to keep your facility regulatory compliant.

Date: Thursday, September 29

Time: 12:00 pm CDT

Length: 20 minutes

AirCycle.com Resources Center Update

2011-09-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

A new resources center at AirCycle.com makes finding recycling information simpler than ever. The new resources center provides easy access to industry articles on recycling, lighting management and other topics, how-to and news videos, an interactive state recycling regulations map, product downloads and more!

If you haven't already, check out the new Air Cycle Corporation whitepaper, "Corporate Universal Waste Recycling: Ensuring Compliance, Generating Savings" to learn about universal waste recycling in a corporate context.

Visit the resources center » Air Cycle Corp. resources

In addition to recycling industry resources, Air Cycle offers economical and easy-to-use lamp, ballast, battery, and electronic waste recycling solutions for any size facility. Learn more » Air Cycle recycling solutions

New York Law to Require E-Waste Recycling in 2012

2011-08-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

Beginning January 1, 2012 most New York facilities will be required to recycle their electronic waste under the NYS Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Law.

The new law covers spent computers, televisions and small-scale servers as well as computer peripherals such as monitors, printers and scanners.

The EasyPak™ Electronics Recycling Container includes the Sustainable Program automatic reordering system and online Certificates of Recycling, making it simple to implement or streamline an e-waste recycling program. Learn more » EasyPak™ e-waste recycling container

U.S. Launches National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship

2011-08-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

The White House Council on Environmental Quality has launched a new initiative to encourage the recycling of used or discarded electronics in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration (GSA), and executives of major electronics manufacturers.

Under the plan, entitled National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship, the GSA will ensure the use of energy-efficient electronics and electronic waste recycling in all federal agencies of the federal government, currently the largest single user of electronics in the U.S.

Air Cycle offers simple and cost-effective e-waste recycling through its Bulk Pickup program and EasyPak™ prepaid mail-in recycling containers. An Air Cycle Bulk Pickup is perfect for large amounts of waste, while EasyPak™ works well for small amounts. Learn more » Air Cycle e-waste recycling

Road to Lamp Recycling: A 10-Step Guide

2011-08-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

More facility managers than ever are aware that recycling spent fluorescent lamps can minimize the risk of workplace mercury exposure and fines from non-compliance with regulations.

Whether you are just looking into lamp recycling or currently have a program in place, this guide to implementing a lamp recycling program can help you take the first step or confirm that you are on the right track. The guide is addressed to health care facility managers, but is applicable to managers of any facility type.

View the guide »

No matter where you are on the lamp recycling spectrum, Air Cycle offers solutions that can help you get started or streamline your current program.

The Bulb Eater® can reduce recycling costs by up to 50% for large facilities, while EasyPak™ makes recycling simple for small facilities. Learn more » Air Cycle recycling solutions

Air Cycle Corporation Named ComEd Trade Associate

2011-08-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

Air Cycle Corporation is pleased to announce its recent recognition as a ComEd Smart Ideas® Trade Associate. The ComEd Smart Ideas® Trade Associate program brings together ComEd customers with local professionals to promote energy efficiency in workplaces.

As a ComEd Trade Associate, Air Cycle is committed to providing cost-effective recycling solutions for spent fluorescent lamps, ballasts, batteries, and electronic waste. Learn more about Air Cycle's waste recycling solutions, or check out recycling industry resources.

New Bulb Eater® CFL Premium Conversion Kit

2011-07-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to crush spent compact fluorescent lamps in your existing Bulb Eater® Premium machine? Now you can with the new Bulb Eater® Premium CFL Conversion Kit!

Conversion takes about an hour, and a retrofitted machine can store up to 3,000 crushed CFLs. A machine with the kit also retains the ability to crush tube lamps. Contact us to learn more and check availability in your area.

Contact us »

Don't have a Bulb Eater® lamp crusher yet and want to crush CFLs? Then check out the CFL Premium machine, and start saving on lamp recycling costs by up to 50%! Learn more » CFL Premium Bulb Eater®.

3 Good Reasons to Recycle Spent Lamps

2011-07-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

What do 19th-century hat-makers and today's facility managers have in common? The answer is that both have reason to take precaution against mercury exposure, according to this article from FacilitiesNet.

For facility managers, that means recycling their spent mercury-containing fluorescent lamps.

But workplace mercury hazard isn't the only reason to recycle. The article covers the recycling regulations and environmental risks that also make recycling a good idea.

Read the article »

Air Cycle Corporation recycling solutions make it easy to minimize the safety, compliance and environmental risks of fluorescent lamp disposal.

The Bulb Eater® can reduce overall recycling costs by up to 50% for large facilities, while EasyPak™ prepaid mail-in containers simplify recycling for small facilities. Click here to learn more.

Congratulations, TOBY® Award Winners!

2011-07-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

The BOMA TOBY® Award competition for excellence in building management again included buildings powered by Air Cycle recycling solutions. Congratulations to our five regional winners and international nominees for 2010-2011! They are:

Mid America Plaza (Oakbrook Terrace, IL) - CB Richard Ellis, Inc.

First City Tower (Houston, TX) - CB Richard Ellis, Inc.

303 W. Madison (Chicago, IL) - CB Richard Ellis, Inc.

The United Building (Chicago, IL) - Jones Lang LaSalle Americas (Illinois) LP

Esperanté Corporate Center (West Palm Beach, FL) - CB Richard Ellis, Inc.

The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) is awarded by the Building Owners and Managers Assocation (BOMA), and recognizes quality in buildings and building management. Buildings are judged in multiple areas
from community involvement to environmental policies and procedures.

Air Cycle offers comprehensive universal waste (UW) recycling programs that include Custom Portals for easy program management and Air Cycle's award-winning Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system and EasyPak™ prepaid mail-in containers.

To learn more click here , or download the recent corporate UW recycling whitepaper.

Bulb Eater® Helps Merchandise Mart Recycle Lamps

2011-07-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

The Bulb Eater® plays a role in helping the Merchandise Mart, the world's largest commercial building (and one of the country's largest recyclers), stay "green" year-round, according to this video from Chicago's ABC7 News.

The Bulb Eater breaks down spent fluorescent bulbs for easy storage and transport for recycling, while safely capturing the mercury vapor from the lamps. "It all gets shipped in a barrel and gets turned back into light bulbs" said Kristen Pabst, assistant property manager at the Merchandise Mart.

Watch the video »

The Bulb Eater can reduce overall lamp recycling costs by up to 50% by saving up to 20 hours of labor per 1000 lamps and 80% of the storage space of intact lamps. Click here to learn more or request pricing.

Free Air Cycle Webinar Now Available On-Demand

2011-06-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

The recent Air Cycle Corporation webinar, "Lamp Recycling: Selecting and Implementing the Most Efficient Solution" is now available to view on-demand and download!

Presented by Joe Day, senior account executive at Air Cycle, the free 15-minute webinar covers the reasons why facility managers should recycle spent lamps and how to determine the right recycling method for your facility.

Click here to watch now »

ADP Celebrates Earth Day with the Bulb Eater®

2011-06-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

The Elk Grove Village, Illinois facility of business product and service provider ADP celebrated Earth Day 2011 with an event showcasing the facility's greening efforts, including fluorescent lamp recycling. The event featured the facility's Air Cycle Corporation Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system and included a demonstration of the machine's bulb-crunching abilities.

The Bulb Eater can crush a 4-foot fluorescent lamp in 1 second, while trapping 99.99% of mercury vapor emissions, making it easy to recycle spent lamps and keep the environment and workplace safe from the hazards of mercury.

The Bulb Eater also can reduce overall lamp recycling costs by up to 50%. Click here to request pricing or learn more.

Focus on Large Scale Lamp Recycling

2011-06-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

At Air Cycle, we believe that for every size facility, there is an efficient method of recycling its fluorescent lamps. While prepaid mail-back EasyPak™ lamp recycling containers offer the flexible and simple small-quantity recycling that small facilities often require, Air Cycle's Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system and Bulk Pickups can deliver cost-savings of up to 50% on overall recycling costs for managers of facilities greater than 150,000 square feet.

This article from Today's Facility Manager explains just how lamp crushing and bulk pickups reduce facility lamp recycling costs, and how to implement a large-scale recycling program.

Read the article »

Crushing lamps with Air Cycle's Bulb Eater® system can minimize lamp storage space by up to 80% and reduce labor by up to 20 hours per 1000 lamps versus boxing lamps for pickup. Request a quote. An Air Cycle Bulk Pickup can lower recycling costs with no upfront investment where crushing is not allowed, and provides the flexibility of shipping lamps on an as-needed basis. Learn more.

Free Webinar: Implementing Efficient Lamp Recycling

2011-05-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

Tune in at 12:00 pm CST on Wednesday, June 22 for a free webinar as Joe Day, senior account executive at Air Cycle, explains why recycling spent fluorescent lamps matters and how to select and implement the most efficient recycling method for your facility.

Space is limited, so register now to reserve your spot!

Date: Wednesday, June 22

Time: 12:00 pm CST

Length: 20 minutes

Strategies to Plan for T12 Phase-Out

2011-05-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

With the recent U.S. Department of Energy-mandated phase out of T12 magnetic ballasts and next year's end to production of T12 lamps, now is the time to begin planning for your facility's transition to higher-efficiency T8 and T5 lamps.

This article from FacilitiesNet explains how to maximize the cost-effectiveness of a retrofit and realize energy savings by taking advantage of upgrade incentive programs.

Read the article »

When T12s burn out or are replaced in a lighting retrofit they should be recycled to ensure that their mercury content does not contaminate your facility or the environment. The Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system from Air Cycle makes it easy, reducing labor by up to 20 hours per 1,000 lamps and minimizing storage space by up to 80%. Click here to learn more or request a quote.

New State E-Waste Laws in Effect

2011-05-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

Last year, seven states passed legislation mandating statewide electronic waste recycling, bringing the the total number of states with such laws to 25, according to this article from Electronics TakeBack Coalition. If you haven't already learned about the regulations governing the disposal of e-waste in your state, now is the time to read up as more states have already or will soon introduce e-waste disposal legislation.

The article includes a map comparing current and newly or soon to be introduced state e-waste legislation. Laws vary extensively from state to state, so check with your state environmental agency to learn how your e-waste is regulated.

Read the article »

EasyPak™ prepaid mail-in containers from Air Cycle Corporation make it simple to recycle electronic waste, spent fluorescent lamps, ballasts, and batteries. The automatic reordering Sustainable Program minimizes paperwork, can be canceled at any time, and only ships a replacement container after the full container is mailed in. Click here learn more or sign up now.

Introducing New CFL Premium Bulb Eater®

2011-05-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

Air Cycle Corporation is pleased to announce the CFL Premium Bulb Eater®, a new version of the award-winning lamp crushing system. The CFL Premium is designed to safely crush and store up to 3,000 compact fluorescent lamps prior to recycling, and can also crush tube lamps.

With the Bulb Eater, facility managers can save up to 20 hours of labor per 1,000 lamps, minimize spent lamp storage requirements by up to 80% and reduce overall lamp recycling costs by up to 50%.

The CFL Premium is available in select areas of the United States and internationally. Click here to request pricing or to check availability in your area. Feel free to contact us at anytime with questions about the CFL Premium or other Bulb Eater products.

Happy Earth Day from Air Cycle!

2011-04-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day from all of us at Air Cycle! At Air Cycle, we work to build awareness of why mercury-containing wastes are dangerous, the harm of improperly disposing of them, and the ways that they can be safely and efficiently recycled.

We offer EasyPak™ prepaid mail-in containers for recycling spent fluorescent lamps, ballasts, batteries, and electronic waste at facilities of less than 150,000 square feet. Our Bulb Eater® lamp crusher safely compacts and stores spent lamps prior to recycling for facilities of more than 150,000 square feet, reducing overall recycling costs by up to 50%.

We hope that you'll take a moment to learn how recycling with our products and services is cost-effective, and can help keep your facility and the environment free of the hazards of mercury.

Learn more about the Bulb Eater or request pricing. Check out time-saving EasyPak online features, or browse containers.

A Snapshot of Small Facility Recycling

2011-04-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

In February, Today's Facility Manager published an article explaining why fluorescent lamp recycling still matters, even in a tough economy when facility management budgets are tight.

The article discussed how recycling lamps can mitigate the financial, environmental, and public relations risks of throwing them out, as well as generate additional benefits like green marketing opportunities and a safer workplace.

Last month, the magazine ran a follow-up article about the types of recycling methods available to facility managers who operate facilities of less than 150,000 square feet, and the logistics of what recycling lamps often looks like for small facilities.

Read the article »

EasyPak™ prepaid recycling containers from Air Cycle are perfect for recycling spent fluorescent lamps, ballasts, batteries and electronic waste at small facilities.

The EasyPak program comprehensively meets facility recycling needs by offering automatic container reordering, online container tracking, and web-based recycling reports and certificates of recycling. Click here to view EasyPak features or order now.

EPA Updates CFL Cleanup and PCB Exposure Guidance

2011-04-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued new guidelines for proper handling of two common hazardous wastes: broken CFLs and PCB-containing lighting ballasts.

This article from Environmental Protection details the simplified CFL cleanup recommendations, and explains how to most efficiently retrofit PCB ballasts using upgrade programs and energy saving fixtures.

Read the article »

View the EPA press releases »

Recycle intact CFLs and non-PCB ballasts along with other mercury-containing wastes using EasyPak™ prepaid recycling containers from Air Cycle Corporation.

Start automatic reordering with a Sustainable Program to minimize time and paperwork: you only get a new container when the full one is shipped. Click here to learn more or sign up.

Bulb Eater® Saves Thousands for Los Alamos Lab

2011-04-08T14:28:00.001-07:00

Los Alamos National Laboratory, known for its Nobel Prize-winning scientists, work on the Manhattan Project and nanotechnology research, is increasing the use of another technology: the Bulb Eater.

The move could save the lab tens of thousands of dollars in waste disposal fees and prevent the mercury in spent fluorescent lamps from contaminating the environment, according to this article from the Los Alamos Monitor.

The Bulb Eater® lamp crusher from Air Cycle is the most efficient way to safely recycle spent fluorescent lamps. Using the Bulb Eater, many facilities cut lamp recycling costs by 50%. Click here to learn more or request pricing.

Why Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Still Matters

2011-04-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

In a tough economy, many facility managers wonder if fluorescent lamp recycling is worth the cost.

But this article from Today's Facility Manager explains how throwing away lamps carries heavy financial, environmental and public relations risks that often outweigh the comparatively small fee for recycling over the long run.

Read the article »

The Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system from Air Cycle can reduce recycling labor by up to 20 hours per 1000 lamps. Click here to request a quote.

EasyPak™ prepaid containers offer simple and cost-effective fluorescent lamp recycling for small facilities. Click here to browse containers.

New Universal Waste Factsheet from Air Cycle

2011-03-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

If your facility uses fluorescent lamps, lead acid batteries or mercury-containing electronics, there is a good chance that the disposal of these materials is regulated under universal waste rules. Universal waste rules govern the disposal of these wastes under special, streamlined regulations to make hazardous waste management a little easier.

This factsheet from Air Cycle provides an introduction to universal waste rules, the specific wastes they regulate, and what they mean for your facility. Air Cycle also offers universal waste recycling solutions for any size facility.

The Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system can reduce recycling costs at large facilities by up to 50% by compacting and safely storing spent lamps prior to recycling. The EasyPak™ prepaid mail-in program is simple to use and offers unique features like online Recycling Reports and Certificates of Recycling. Click here to learn more.

View the factsheet »

Overlooked Costs of Throwing Out Lamps

2011-03-08T15:49:00.000-08:00

When fluorescent lamps burn out, it is easiest and cheapest to simply dispose of them in the trash, right? Wrong! This article from FacilitiesNet shows how throwing out lamps can lead to costly fines in states that require lamp recycling, and release harmful mercury vapors if the bulbs break.

See the full article »

Instead of illegally throwing away spent fluorescent lamps, try the EasyPak™ pre-paid recycling program from Air Cycle.

The EasyPak program is simple to implement, uses minimal storage space, and offers documentation of proper recycling.

"The EasyPak program is outstanding--really easy to use. We just pack our waste and ship it out; it's as simple as that!"

- Eric Anderson, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Click here for more on EasyPak, or click to learn about the environmental regulations that govern your state.

U.S. EPA Reports Record Penalty Levels for 2010

2011-02-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency required polluters to pay over $110 million in civil penalties and $12 billion in environmental cleanup and other projects, the highest totals ever according to Waste Business Journal.

In a press release, the EPA stated that, when completed, the enforcement actions should reduce pollution by 1.4 billion pounds.

Staying compliant with waste disposal regulations is important not only to avoid the risk of monetary penalties, but also to maintain a reputation for environmental care and minimize the environmental impact of business operations.

With Air Cycle, recycling spent fluorescent lamps, ballasts, batteries, and

electronic waste is simple. EasyPak™ prepaid containers are perfect for recycling smaller amounts of waste.

For larger facilities, the Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system or Bulk Pickups are the most cost-effective recycling solutions. Click here for more information.

Detailed waste disposal regulations by state »

New Corporate UW Recycling Whitepaper from Air Cycle

2011-02-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

A critical green practice for large organizations to implement is universal waste (UW) recycling. Recycling universal wastes ensures compliance with waste disposal regulations and reduces harmful environmental impacts.

But implementing UW recycling across the complex, multi-facility structure of a large corporation can pose challenges including minimizing recycling costs, ensuring organization-wide participation and measuring recycling progress.

A new whitepaper from Air Cycle reviews these challenges and explains how a corporate recycling program can solve them while generating additional benefits, like green marketing opportunities and reduced liability for improper disposal.

Download the whitepaper »

Learn more about corporate recycling with Air Cycle »

Air Cycle Endures Record-Setting Blizzard

2011-02-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

Last week, we at Air Cycle weathered over twenty inches of snow in

the third-largest snowstorm on record in Chicago.

We apologize if you experienced any delay in receiving orders or

communication. We are back to full speed, and appreciate your

patience!

Operating (and Recycling) Lamps in Winter Conditions

2011-01-25T15:06:00.000-08:00

For many facility managers, winter brings conditions like damp and cold that can pose problems to fluorescent lighting systems, especially for outdoor fixtures.

This guide from Lightsearch.com offers best-practices for dealing with demanding environments like those in winter, as well as corrosive and hazardous locations.

See the guide »

When fluorescent lamps do burn out, mail them in for recycling with EasyPak™ boxes from Air Cycle. The EasyPak Sustainable Program is the simplest way to recycle lamps, reorder boxes, and track recycling efforts, all winter long.

Or, try the Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system or a Bulk Pickup for even easier recycling at large facilities. Click here to start now.

Bulb Eater® Boosts Auburn Recycling

2010-12-09T09:08:00.001-08:00

Recycling fluorescent lamps is often considered an overly expensive and time-consuming chore. But we at Air Cycle believe that with a little help, lamp recycling can be simple and easy for businesses and communities. And that's exactly what the city of Auburn, AL recently discovered.

When Recycling Division Manager Andre Richardson began looking for ways to recycle items the city normally doesn't, he found the Bulb Eater lamp crushing system to be a great fit, according to this video from Alabama First News. According to Richardson, the Bulb Eater "reduces storage needs, minimizes handling of light bulbs, and creates a safer, cleaner work environment."

It's always nice to hear how the Bulb Eater helps make it easy and efficient for communities to recycle spent fluorescent lamps and the mercury they contain. Click here for more information or to request a quote.

RIP: T12 Fluorescent Lamp

2010-12-08T15:34:00.001-08:00

If your facility operates any of the millions of T12 fluorescent lamps currently in use, start planning to replace them with more efficient alternatives. In 2012, production of most T12 lamps will be phased out, following new DOE fluorescent lamp regulations effective that year.

These changes, along with the elimination of many T12 magnetic ballasts this year will compel many facility mangers to upgrade their lighting, according to a recent article from Today's Facility Manager.

The article explains how T12s are regulated and offers insight on planning for the change, from installation methods and creating an upgrade timeline, to ensuring replacement lighting quality and efficiency.

See the article »

The Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system is the most efficient way to get rid of old T12 lamps in a safe and environmentally-friendly way. Click here to request a quote.

Lighting Controls: Luxury or Necessity?

2010-10-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

For most facility managers, controllable lighting falls into the "good-to-have" but not "essential" category. But according to a recent article from FacilitiesNet.com, lighting controls are one of the most effective means of reducing facility energy consumption.

The article explains how controlled lighting can achieve energy savings of 15 to 80 percent in addition to savings obtained through a lighting system upgrade. The article also reviews lighting control strategies like astronomical time clock scheduling, occupancy sensing, and daylight harvesting.

See the article »

Even with controlled lighting, fluorescent bulbs eventually burn out. When they finally do, the Bulb Eater® lamp crusher from Air Cycle is perfect for storing the bulbs prior to recycling. The Bulb Eater is safe and easy to use, and compacts lamps to minimize storage space by up to 80%! Click here to request pricing.

Bulb Eater® Travels to Bermuda!

2010-09-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to see the many and varied places where the Bulb Eater lamp crusher is put to use around the world, making it easier to recycle fluorescent lamps and help keep mercury out of the environment. From Alaskan cruise ships to Malaysian recycling companies, the Bulb Eater's been everywhere, man (apologies to Johnny Cash).

I recently found out that the Bulb Eater has been to Bermuda. The Royal Gazette reported that a Bulb Eater was obtained to safely store fluorescent bulbs, and help ensure proper disposal. Bermudan Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess said that "by reducing mercury from Bermuda's waste stream, the chance of human health risk is greatly reduced." And that's what the Bulb Eater is all about: a practical, safe way of packaging and recycling fluorescent lamps to help keep mercury out of the environment .

Click here to see the Bulb Eater in action. For details on how the Bulb Eater from Air Cycle can help save storage space and cut labor costs, click here.

By Land and Sea...

2010-08-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

The Alaska Cruise Association recently donated a

Bulb Eater® lamp crusher to the community of Juneau, Alaska, as a way to assist the town with safely disposing of spend fluorescent bulbs, reported the Capital City Weekly. "Bulb Eaters are aboard many of the cruise ships that visit Alaska and have proven to be a safe way to dispose of used fluorescent bulbs," said Bruce Bustamante, on behalf of the Alaska Cruise Association.

Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho is pleased with the partnership. "This is a good example of how the cruise industry can share its cutting-edge technology with Alaskans," he said.

PS: You may have noticed that I recently highlighted a Bulb Eater fundraiser hosted by the Native Village of Eyak in Cordova, Alaska. Kudos to these Alaskans for finding creative ways to use the Bulb Eater to keep our environment clean, and communities safe!

Click here for stories of how the Bulb Eater has helped cities and other organizations recycle their used fluorescent bulbs. For detailed product information, or a free case study on the Bulb Eater, click here. Please contact us at any time with questions about the Bulb Eater or any other Air Cycle product.

We Want Your Feedback!

2010-08-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

At Air Cycle, we are always seeking to improve our products and services and provide you a better overall recycling and customer experience. Our goal is to provide a quality recycling program that is easy and economical.

We place a high value on how our customers feel about their experience with Air Cycle, so we want to hear from you! Click the link below to check out our new feedback page and let us know how we are doing!

Give us feedback »

For more information on our award-winning Bulb Eater® lamp recycling system or EasyPak™ prepaid recycling program, click here. Feel free to contact us at anytime with questions about any EasyPak product.

Little League Wins with the Bulb Eater

2010-07-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

I'm always amazed at the many unique ways the Bulb Eater® lamp crusher is put to work recycling fluorescent lamps. One of the more creative uses for the Bulb Eater I've run across is a fundraising event for the Little League of Cordova, Alaska. A recent article in the Cordova Times explains how participants fed fluorescent lamps into the Bulb Eater for a suggested donation of 25 cents per bulb.

"Feeding the bulb eater is fun," said Autumn Bryson, environmental coordinator for the Native Village of Eyak, a sponsor of the event. "It's amazing, it just grabs the bulb out of your hand and crushes it up." The event also raised awareness of the environmental risks of mercury contamination that can result from improperly disposing of fluorescent lamps.

Click here for a free case study on the benefits of using the Bulb Eater lamp crushing system. Feel free to contact us at anytime with questions about the Bulb Eater or other Air Cycle products.

See the Bulb Eater »

Relamping Cost Comparison and Tips

2010-07-12T13:42:00.000-07:00

The time to relamp arrives sooner or later at every facility. But is it better to replace each individual lamp as it burns out, or to replace all lamps in a lighting system at one time?

Reliant Energy crunches data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in this informative article comparing the costs of the spot and group relamping methods. The article also explains how to make the most of relamping by maximizing light quality and logistical efficiency.

Read the article »

Other relamping considerations, courtesy of Building Operating Management, include:

• Checking for broken or damaged lampholders. One reason for lighting failure often missed during spot relamping is a cracked lampholder or socket that could lead to a smoking fixture if a short circuit results.

• Following up on ballast and lamp warranties. Most lighting maintenance firms routinely handle such paperwork.

• Recycling lamps. Many facilities seeking LEED points or other green status may wish to hand this task over to a firm that knows the most economical and acceptable ways to meet requirements.

• Securing available incentives. Some lamp manufacturers occasionally offer rebates or discounts, while a few states offer incentives for cutting wattage, which may be available when switching to low-power lamps during group relamping.

• Setting up and maintaining a lamp/ballast database. Knowing the location, specifications and last installation date of every lamp and ballast goes a long way to cutting down occasional spot relamping time, while greatly helping future upgrades.

The Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system from Air Cycle is perfect for storing the spent bulbs produced during relamping projects prior to recycling. For facilities that generate smaller amounts of lamps or other waste, the EasyPak™ prepaid bulb recycling container is a perfect fit.

Introducing New EasyPak Dental Waste Container

2010-06-29T15:36:00.001-07:00

If you are a frequent reader of the Air Cycle blog, you might have noticed a few new product announcements lately. At Air Cycle, we strive to continually develop innovative products that help our customers. We are pleased to introduce our most recent addition to the EasyPak product line, the EasyPak Dental Waste Recycling Container. The new container is specially designed with a 1/2 gallon inner container to provide easy recycling for up to 2lbs of wet dental amalgam. The container can also accommodate used lead x-ray foil for a total capacity of 25lbs of waste.

Dental amalgam commonly contains mercury which, if improperly disposed, can be released into water bodies, the air, and vegetation via wastewater streams and incineration. For an excellent introduction to handling mercury-containing dental amalgam, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's dental amalgam webpage.

Click here to purchase the new EasyPak Dental Waste Recycling Container. Feel free to contact us at anytime with questions about this container or other EasyPak products.

See the new container »

Are Copy Machines a Risk to Data Security?

2010-06-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

Even though information security is a top priority for many companies, sensitive data can still turn up in unexpected places. I recently came across this fascinating CBS News investigative report that explains how digital copy machines can store thousands of previously copied pages, and the sensitive data they contain, unless their hard drives are erased.

Air Cycle Helps Keep Carroll Beautiful

2010-06-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

I recently came across an article in the Times-Georgian, of Carroll County, GA, entitled "Cleaning the garage: Waste you can't just throw away." The piece highlights the efforts of local non-profit Keep Carroll Beautiful to provide residents with recycling assistance, and to educate about the dangers of improper disposal of everyday wastes. Though seemingly harmless, these items can pose serious environmental health risks and lead to hefty fines.

One way Keep Carroll Beautiful helps residents is by collecting hazardous mercury-containing wastes like thermometers and batteries, which are then picked up and recycled by Air Cycle. The group has even purchased a Bulb Eater from Air Cycle, so that residents can safely dispose of fluorescent lighting items.

It's great to see local residents rising to the challenge of keeping hazardous wastes out of the environment. Click here to find out more about the Air Cycle products Keep Carroll Beautiful uses like bulk pickups and the Bulb Eater.

Announcing New U-Bend & HID EasyPak Containers

2010-05-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce our newest addition to the EasyPak product line: the U-Bend & HID Lamp Recycling Container. This new container, which holds up to 45 U-bend lamps or 60 400W HIDs, was developed in response to requests that we provide a convenient method of recycling bulbs besides tubes and CFLs.

This new EasyPak container works exactly the same as our other containers, and users will have access to online features like recycling reports, recycling certificates, and container tracking.

If you would like to purchase the new U-Bend & HID EasyPak Container, click here. If you have any questions about this container or anything else related to EasyPak, feel free to contact us at anytime.

See the new container »

Announcing Smash-It™ Pneumatic Compactors

2010-04-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

Air Cycle is proud to introduce new members to our family of innovative money-saving products, Smash-It™ compactors. Powered by a compressed air, the pneumatic cylinders on Smash-It™ compactors provide 3,400 to 6,000 pounds of compacting force. This safe, easy to use compaction method will allow you to achieve compaction ratios of up to 5:1, reducing waste disposal costs by up to 80%! In fact, most Smash-It™ users find that the machines pay for themselves after 3-6 months.

Smash-It™ is a time saver too; smaller amounts of waste means employees spend less time moving containers around a facility, and less time filling out waste pickup paperwork. Finally, compacting waste with Smash-It™ also means space savings. Just imagine having 80% fewer drums or boxes of waste lying around your facility!

Smash-It compactors are in use in warehouses, military bases, factories, universities, and even on large ships all over the world. 3M, the US Army, DuPont, General Electric, and the Ohio State University are just a few of the companies and organizations that are utilizing Smash-It™ compactors in their facilities.

We here at Air Cycle would be happy to talk to you more about Smash-It™ and to help you see if this product is right for your facility, so feel free to contact us at anytime. To learn more about these innovative machines on your own visit the Smash-It™ product information page. To request pricing click here.

A new CFL reduces mercury hazard

2010-03-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

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Clear-Lite Holdings, Inc. has recently released a very interesting product that may solve the broken bulb problems that many homes and businesses run into. Their new ArmorLite CFL has a safety coating that makes accidental breakage much more difficult, lessening the likelihood of mercury exposure if a bulb is broken.

While this self-described "safer CFL" might keep mercury out of the air if a bulb is broken, there is still mercury inside the bulb, which means that it does need to be recycled. And I happen to know someone that can help you with that (warning- shameless plug!)...

A Hole-in-One With The Bulb Eater

2010-02-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

When people find out I work for Air Cycle they often will mention places that the have seen the Bulb Eater in action. Usually they mention warehouses, schools, or hospitals. So imagine my surprise when I was talking to a friend the other day and he mentioned that he saw the Bulb Eater in, of all places, Golf Digest magazine! While we are used to seeing the Bulb Eater in industry publications like American School and Hospital or Environmental Protection, I can say quite confidently that we've never been featured in any kind of sports magazine.

So, what was the article about (here's a link to the web version)? Although crushing bulbs probably isn't really helping golfers get out of sand traps, it is helping golf courses and resorts dispose of their fluorescent bulbs is a more cost-effective and sustainable manner. Golf Digest's story is about Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina, which received the magazine's annual Green Star Award for its environmental initiatives. Kiawah describes themselves as an "ecologically sensitive" resort that is committed to leaving as light of a green footprint as possible. In addition to crushing bulbs with the Bulb Eater, the resort recycles many other types of waste (plastic, glass, and even fishing line) and has been certified by Audubon International as a Cooperative Sanctuary for wildlife.

Congrats to the Kiawah Island Resort for their Green Star Award! Now if only I could get them to give me a free round...

Bulb Eater Lamp Crusher Saves University $20,000

2010-01-29T16:16:00.000-08:00

In April 2009 AirCycle.com ran an article about the use of the Bulb Eater by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In the article we discussed how crushing lamps with the machine was saving the university $20,000 per year as well as valuable time and space.

We recently came across this video feature produced by news channel KTHV 11 that details how and why the university is using the Bulb Eater. It's a great look from an outside source at lamp crushing and the positive impact of the Bulb Eater on a facility. Check it out and let us know what you think!

New U.S. DOT Battery Recycling and Transport Rules

2010-01-22T14:49:00.000-08:00

In July of 2009 the United States Department of Transportation released guidelines for packaging batteries for recycling. The old guidelines stated that all batteries over 1.5 volts had to have their terminals taped or be placed in plastic bag when packaging them for transport to a recycling facility. However, new guidelines from the DOT make things a little easier:

The new regulations state that dry rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries with a marked rating of 9-volts or less do not have to be sealed with tape or placed separately in plastic bags to prevent battery contact. Batteries that are 9-volts or less can be left unsealed in recycling containers with batteries of the same chemistry, i.e., alkaline with alkaline, Ni-Cd with Ni-Cd, etc.

Batteries that are over 9-volts or that are not dry cell still must be sealed in a way that prevents terminal exposure.

For more detailed information, see the new U.S. DOT safety letter that specifically outlines the guidelines. And as always, feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have.

Battery recycling with Air Cycle is cost-effective and easy. EasyPak prepaid recycling containers are perfect for facilities with smaller amounts of batteries, while our bulk pickup service is the best option for large amounts of batteries.

An Inside Look at Our Battery Recycling Process

2010-01-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

Ever wondered what the recycling process looks like for batteries disposed of via EasyPak recycling containers? Look no further than this helpful feature that charts out and explains exactly what happens with your batteries once you fill your containers and ship them off.

This Process Flow Diagram illustrates the preliminary processing steps that batteries recycled with EasyPak recycling containers undergo. The process consists of:

1. Battery receipt and inspection

2. Sorting of conforming batteries
(non-conforming batteries are returned to generator)

3. Material sizing

4. Metal recovery

5. Separation of final product (Ni, Fe, Cr, Mn, & Zn-O)

We take the utmost care to make sure that your batteries are recycled in the most environmentally-friendly way possible. All of our recycling facilities are certified by the EPA and meet all state and local environmental requirements. If you have any more questions about what happens to your batteries once you send in your EasyPak battery containers please feel free to contact us at anytime. If you would like to learn more about battery recycling through EasyPak click here.

The Bulb Eater finds its way to Malaysia

2009-12-18T14:42:00.001-08:00

I always enjoy hearing stories about all the neat places where the Bulb Eater is used. This week I came across a story of a Bulb Eater being used in Malaysia, a country known for its tall buildings and federal constitutional monarchy, but not usually for its lamp crushing. That might soon change, however, as the Bulb Eater has found its way into the hands of UEM Enviro, an environmental services company based in Kuala Lumpur.

UEM Enviro unveiled their Bulb Eater at a recycling event held in Negeri Sembilan. At the event, Managing Director of UEM Enviro Encik Azmanuddin Haq Ahmad said that "we are on a quest to provide a more effective management of fluorescent lamp waste which will significantly cut down on the dumping of such toxic waste into landfills and thereby ensuring cleaner groundwater for the future."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Great to see that folks all over the globe are doing their part to keep the environment clean!

The Bulb Eater on FacilityManagement.com

2009-11-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

FacilityManagement.com recently ran an article entitled "Crushing Fluorescent Bulbs: Saving the Environment While Saving Money" that discusses fluorescent bulbs and the importance of recycling them due to the mercury inside. However, the main thrust of the article (as you may have guessed from the title!) is the fact that crushing lamps is the most cost-efficient and time-saving method of proper disposal. While it was great to see Air Cycle and the Bulb Eater mentioned multiple times in the piece, probably the best thing was having several positive testimonials from Bulb Eater users. Here's a great quote from the piece:

Sheela Backen describes her facility’s experience with the Bulb Eater, a popular lamp crusher: "The bulbs are brought to a specific location. I send one person over there for a couple hours a week to crush the tubes. It's very quick and efficient, and I don't have to waste so much time trying to load a truck."

And here's another one:

Crushing bulbs can even get a little addictive for some facility staff. Brian Weeks of Lakeland Regional Medical Center saw that his employees were getting hooked on the whole idea: “We like it so much, my guys are running around looking for spare tubes to crush. We've already reorganized the warehouse and it couldn't have been neater or cleaner."

It's always great to see the Bulb Eater in the news, and we also love seeing quotes like these. If you see the Bulb Eater in the news somewhere or you have a Bulb Eater testimonial, please let us know! Who knows, maybe we'll even make you famous by putting your name on the blog...

Introducing Customizable Tools for Larger Companies and Distributors

2009-11-19T14:40:00.000-08:00

Air Cycle is pleased to announce two unique opportunities for companies with multiple locations and potential distributors:

Custom Corporate Recycling Portal

Perfect for companies with multiple locations, the Custom Corporate Portal will allow users to create, manage, and track their corporate-wide recycling program from a centralized location.

Learn more »

Custom Distributor Recycling Portal
A solution for distributors striving to provide their customers with comprehensive recycling solutions, the Custom Distributor Portal is a centralized location to sell Air Cycle products, earn commission, and track performance.

Learn more »

Also, Air Cycle can help your company put together a fully custom corporate recycling solution. Contact us today and we will put together a proposal for you!

Here are a few companies who have implemented custom recycling programs with Air Cycle:

How fluorescent bulbs are made

2009-11-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

I recently ran across this really cool video detailing the entire fluorescent bulb manufacturing process. The video shows every step, from the shaping of the glass tubes to the cutting of the wires inside, as well as the insertion of all the needed components. Pretty intricate process for such a simple result!

One thing the video shows is the insertion of drops of mercury into each bulb. Mercury is required for the bulb to work, but its presence means that recycling is needed (and often required by law!). If mercury leaks into the environment via disposal into the trash the result can be significant environmental problems and health issues for those who come in contact with it.

Fortunately, we here at Air Cycle have some neat solutions that solve this bulb disposal problem: the Bulb Eater, prepaid EasyPak recycling containers, and fluorescent bulb bulk pickups.

Confused? Click here to see which solution is best for your facility.

Halloween at Air Cycle!

2009-10-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

We do occasionally like to have a little fun here at Air Cycle, and Halloween is no exception. For your enjoyment (and our humiliation), here are a couple of photos from around the Air Cycle office on Halloween:

Here we have Francis Ouimet (winner of the 1913 U.S. Open and subject of a fantastic film starring Shia LeBeouf). An odd costume choice, but pulled off well.

Here's Air Cycle's Illinois hometown hero, ex-governor Rod Blagojevich. What a healthy head of hair!

And finally, the former guitar shredder for Guns 'n Roses: Slash! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, both the guitar and the hair are real...

Thanks for visiting! If your company had any great costumes send them our way- we may even post them for all to see!

Frightening Halloween Recycling Facts

2009-10-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

Here's some Halloween recycling and environmental facts from Earth911.com that may (or may not) give you nightmares:

1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins were produced in 2008 by major pumpkin-producing states such as Illinois, California, Pennsylvania and New York. Many are used each fall for jack-o’-lanterns and pumpkin pies. Once Halloween is over, you can reuse or recycle your pumpkin.

A 2008 National Retail Foundation survey found that 64.5 percent of people celebrate Halloween in some way. That’s a higher number than the individual recycling rates of aluminum, glass, paper and plastic bottles.

Each Halloween, an estimated $40 per capita is spent on candy, decorations and greeting cards, all of which produce large amounts of waste.

Leaves can account for 75 percent of the solid waste stream in the fall.

Americans consumed 23.8 pounds of candy per capita in 2008. Most of the wrappers are made of mixed materials, making it difficult to recycle them.

An estimated 80,000,000 Hershey’s Kisses are wrapped each day, using enough aluminum foil to cover more than 50 acres of space, the equivalent of almost 40 football fields.

The U.S. spends almost $4 billion annually on electricity lost to “vampire power,” according to the International Energy Agency. Vampire power, also known as “phantom load,” is the electricity that electronics and appliances use while they are turned off or in standby mode.

See the rest of the list at Earth911.com, and be sure to have a happy Halloween!

New Bulb Eater video!

2009-10-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

You've probably already noticed the cool new look of AirCycle.com, but did you know that there is also a brand new Bulb Eater video? It gives a good overview of the features of the machine as well as the benefits of putting it to use in your facility. Additionally, you can also see some great shots of the machine in use.

See more helpful videos on the lamp recycling process, EasyPak recycling containers, and some news items on the Bulb Eater at the Air Cycle videos page.

Greening Your Battery Usage

2009-10-15T14:34:00.001-07:00

The nice folks over at Earth911.com have published a list of helpful tips for using batteries in a more environmentally friendly way. While the best green tip for batteries is to recycle them (tip #2), there certainly are some other practices that can help you prolong battery life and limit their harmful effects.

Here's the list:

1. Replace One at a Time
So your device stopped working, and it takes four AA batteries. Looks like you’ve got to buy four new batteries and dispose of four as well. Actually, only one of the batteries may be dead. If you invest in a battery-tester, you can find out which batteries have no charge left and only replace those. Some batteries even come with a tester on the cell itself. If they end up needing to be tossed, check out mail-back programs for all your battery recycling needs.

2. Embrace Heavy Metal
In most circumstances, searching for a product with less hazardous materials is more eco-friendly. In the case of batteries, hazardous ingredients increase your chances of finding recycling options. Consider:

Car batteries contain lead and sulfuric acid and have a recycling rate around 90 percent.

Single-use dry cell batteries have been gutted of mercury in recent years, and it’s now much more difficult to find locations that recycle them than rechargeables (which contain cadmium).

If your batteries have elements like lead, mercury or lithium, there will be more value to a recycler that can reprocess these metals. Just make sure they are kept out of the reach of children and pets in the meantime.

3. Laptops Aren’t for Laps

You already know that batteries and heat do not get along together. Well, your computer generates a fair amount of heat internally, which is why your notebook computer comes with a fan. Using your laptop on a soft surface (such as your lap) restricts air flow and actually heats up your battery. You can also invest in a cooling pad if you want to use a notebook on soft surfaces. Keeping the battery cool will help extend its lifespan.

4. Keep Your Batteries Cool
You may have heard that putting batteries in the fridge or freezer will make them last longer. While this may be the case, you’ll have to let the batteries thaw before using them to avoid condensation in your devices. Regardless, you should avoid storing batteries in hot places, because they could leak fluid.

5. Wait for Good Reception
“Can you hear me now?” That’s good for more than just your phone manners. When your cell phone has low reception, it uses more battery power to search for stronger signals. Waiting for better reception will allow your cell phone battery to last longer.

6. Insulate Your Car Battery
Think about it: your car experiences more temperature fluctuations than anything else in your life. It deals with hot and cold driving weather, gets heated up and cooled down on every trip and ends up stored in a poorly-insulated garage for the night (if it’s lucky).

You can find insulation blankets to allow car batteries to adjust better to all kinds of temperatures. The next time you’re under the hood, check to see if your battery is insulated or have a qualified professional check for you.

7. Crank Up Your Batteries
The days of hand cranks to generate power went out with draft cards and freedom marches. Or did they? You can actually find hand-cranks to charge up all sorts of devices, such as cell phones and mp3 players. You’ll also get a little exercise. Another option is charging your gadgets with solar power. These are both forms of renewable energy so you won’t have to use non-renewable electricity to power your batteries.

8. Opt for Plugging In
Many devices will come equipped with battery compartments and an A/C power adapter, including some alarm clocks and lamps. You may be saving energy by working off batteries, but you’re also producing waste when the batteries die. Don’t forget you have to spend energy to recharge batteries as well. If you have the option, plugging in will use less resources.

Recycle bulbs with Air Cycle and become famous...

2009-10-01T13:33:00.001-07:00

...ok maybe not. But it does happen for some clients of ours. In the "Greenest Big Companies in America" cover story of the September 28 edition of Newsweek magazine, several of Air Cycle's clients made the list. Here's a little info on two of them:

Marriott International (ranked #42) uses Air Cycle products like EasyPak recycling containers and the Bulb Eater in over 500 of their hotels across the country. Paul Hildreth, project director of engineering at Marriott says that “We believe that Air Cycle offers our hotels an easier and more eco-friendly option to dispose of fluorescent bulbs. It’s a great solution for hotels in states where regulations are continuously evolving to meet environmental demands.” Other Marriott green projects include LEED certification for hotels and goals to reduce greenhouse emissions company-wide by 40,000 tons annually.

Real estate company CB Richard Ellis (ranked #45) also has EasyPak and the Bulb Eater in several of their facilities. Additionally, CBRE employees regularly schedule bulk recycling pickups for their buildings when they have large amounts of waste they need to properly dispose of. Melanie Tank, manager of the Patrick Henry Building in Washington, D.C. notes that solutions from Air Cycle have helped their facility stay in line with environmental regulations: "We are a government building," she said, "So it's important for us to follow D.C regulations."

Congratulations to all the companies that made the list. It's great to see corporations that are willing work for environmental progress, particularly by recycling their waste. So, to everyone that wants some coverage next year, give Air Cycle a call and let's get started!

Want free shipping for EasyPak recycling containers?

2009-09-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

Sure you do! Air Cycle is making a new special offer that can save you some cash: if you order five or more of the same EasyPak container, you'll get free shipping via UPS Ground!

To get free shipping just place your order online here or call 800-909-9709. Feel free to visit the contact us page with any questions that you may have.

In case you didn't know, EasyPak is a simple, low-cost way to recycle your fluorescent bulbs, CFLs batteries, ballasts, or electronic waste. Simply fill up the containers with your waste and mail them out via prepaid FedEx. After their waste is recycled, each EasyPak user gets an official certificate of recycling. Additionally, users can track their progress over time online with web-based recycling reports. Cool features on an equally cool product- I'd encourage you to take advantage of the above offer ASAP!

Alarming fluorescent bulb recycling stats, hopeful solutions

2009-09-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

This article on mercury in fluorescent bulbs from Eco-Structure.com recently drew my interest. In the piece, writer Laurie Grant lays out some staggering statistics:

"Despite the recent growth of lamp recycling, 71 percent of mercury-containing lamps used by businesses and 98 percent used in homes still are not being recycled...Each year, the lighting industry uses approximately 9 tons (8.2 metric tons) of mercury in manufacturing energy-efficient lamps. Of the 514 million lamps per year that enter the solid waste stream, about 142 million come from private homes and 372 million come from businesses, the government, and institutions."

I also saw a journal article from the New Jersey DEP that estimated that two to four tons of mercury is released yearly from throwing away lamps. Compared to the millions of tons of trash and other waste that is generated every year this amount may not seem like a lot, but there is a whole lot of destructive power in just a tiny amount of mercury. According to NEWMOA, just one gram of it leaked in from the atmosphere can contaminate a 20 acre lake for an extended period of time. Even if it's just two tons, that is still a whole lot of grams...

These stats are sobering, but there is hope. Over the last few years there has been a noticeable shift in bulb recycling awareness and practice, with more and more facilities buying into the idea. Government agencies like the federal EPA and many state DEQs have furthered this cause by implementing rules that mandate the proper disposal of bulbs and imposing fine s for those who don't comply. Large corporations like CB Richard Ellis and Marriott have led the way by developing their own company-wide bulb recycling programs, providing a good example to others while also keeping a whole lot of mercury out of the environment. However, my hat goes off to the smaller mom and pop businesses that we work with that decide to recycle even though there are no mandates coming in from the corporate offices.

Luckily, because recycling a bulb is less than 1% of the cost of buying and powering it, facilities don't have to spend much in order to have a big impact on the environment. And there are other incentives to keep in mind, like the attraction of new customers through promotion of your green efforts, as well as the satisfaction of your existing ones. Finally, pricey fines and PR from violations are never good, and spending just a little to properly dispose of bulbs eliminates this risk.

I would encourage you to check out the multiple recycling solutions available on the market so that your facility can join the ever-growing number of companies and organizations that are trying to help keep the environment clean by recycling their bulbs. Bulb recycling isn't hard or expensive, and it's simply the right thing to do.

NYC fined $50K for improper bulb disposal

2009-08-20T10:31:00.001-07:00

Here's a news item that should serve as a wakeup call to those who aren't recycling their lamps or other electronic waste...

From WasteRecyclingNews.com:

"The U.S. EPA has reached an agreement with New York City requiring it to pay $50,000 in penalties and launch a comprehensive program to properly manage old light bulbs and computer monitors.

EPA inspectors report they found improper disposal of mercury-containing light bulbs as well as used computer monitors containing lead at several buildings managed by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. The city has agreed to come into compliance and to spend at least $300,000 on a multi-facility, self-audit program to assess compliance with hazardous waste management requirements."

Whoa. $50,000 in penalties...pretty steep, and perhaps even worse is the negative PR that comes along with it. I'd recommend not letting your facility join the ranks of organizations like NYC, Macy's, and others who have learned the hard way that they need to recycle their bulbs and e-waste. Not only is proper bulb and e-waste disposal the right thing to do for the environment, it could save your organization major money and embarrassment in the long run.

Click here for more info on bulb disposal regulations in your state. Also, this EPA site has some good info on electronics disposal regulations.

Not exactly what we had in mind when we said Bulb Eater...

2009-08-06T10:26:00.000-07:00

So, every once in a while I come across something with no bearing on recycling (or perhaps reality). You know, something just for kicks. This is defintely one of those times...

No, this method of bulb disposal isn't available from Air Cycle. However, this one is...might not be as much of a hit at parties, but it's probably safer.

DOT battery recycling update

2009-07-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

The U.S. DOT has released some new rules for packaging batteries for recycling that amend their previous regulations that mandated the taping or bagging of all batteries. The nice thing is that these new updated rules should be a relief for people that recycle their batteries. You can read the full update and see here or contact us if you need clarification, but here's the basics of what you need to know:

You no longer have to tape or bag alkaline 1.5 volt batteries (1.5 volt batteries include AA, AAA, C, and D)
However, if non-alkalines are going to be mixed with alkalines in your recycling containers, the DOT requires that you insulate all the batteries. If you are placing alkaline 1.5 volt batteries in an EasyPak container with non-alkaline batteries you must tape or bag all the batteries in the container.

Here's a tip: because you still have to tape all battery terminals if you mix alkalines and non-alkalines, I would advise simply using two seperate EasyPak containers, one for each type. Put them next to each other in your facility and mark which battery types should go in each.

I hope this helps clarify the new rules. However, regulation stuff can be tricky, so again, please feel free to contact us with any more questions.

Teavana partners with Air Cycle to recycle bulbs

2009-07-22T13:36:00.001-07:00

Here's a little news for any tea connoisseurs out there (or bulb recycling connoisseurs, but I suspect their numbers are much smaller): national tea retailer Teavana recently started using EasyPak at all 100 of its stores. You can read more about Teavana's fluorescent bulb recycling with EasyPak here.

If you have any cool bulb recycling or EasyPak news that's been "brewing" lately at your company (pun intended), let me know on the comments or by emailing me at aaron@aircycle.com.

By the way, Teavana's a really neat company- visit one of their stores to try out their great blends, or you can order tea online at Teavana.com.

Sodexo selects Air Cycle for its universal waste recycling needs

2009-07-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

I’m pleased to announce that Air Cycle has begun a corporate-wide partnership with Sodexo, Inc. to recycle universal waste at their facilities all over the country. Sodexo is a leading provider of facilities management services in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with over 10 million customers at 6,000 locations. As part of this partnership, Sodexo will be utilizing the EasyPak Sustainable Program and the Bulb Eater, giving them access to convenient and cost-effective recycling solutions as well as neat features like reporting and recycling certificates.

We are always looking for new corporate recycling partners. If you have multiple facilities and you would like to explore the extra benefits available for corporate partners, please visit our consulting site at GreenerResults.com or contact me at aaron@aircycle.com.

But if you just want one or two EasyPak containers, or maybe a Bulb Eater, that’s cool too (you gotta start somewhere, right?).

Bulb recycling for the lazy

2009-06-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Today I stumbled across a promo for a new show on the Sundance Channel called the Lazy Environmentalist. It’s just what it sounds like: a guy trying to find easy ways to be “green” that don’t take much extra effort.

Haven’t seen the show yet (it premiered on June 15), but the host Josh Dorfman sounds like my kind of guy. He’s not interested in spending tons of time, energy, or money finding ways to keep the environment healthy; he wants to find easy things to do that are actually helpful and that don’t require him to turn into a full time tree-hugger.

Fortunately, this is possible, especially when it comes to recycling fluorescent lamps. Using a program like EasyPak takes no more time than putting bulbs in the trash (just put them in the EasyPak boxes or buckets and call to have FedEx pick them up- it’s that simple!). In the case of the Bulb Eater, it is actually cheaper and easier to crush bulbs than boxing and storing lamps for disposal (see why here)!

So to all my fellow couch-dwelling, late-sleeping, potato-chip munching lethargics, let’s recycle some bulbs! And then back to the TV Land reruns…

Cruise ship bulb recycling

2009-06-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Recently I started looking at some of the different kinds of places that utilize the Bulb Eater for their lamp crushing needs. While I knew that many business, hospital, and school facilities use the Bulb Eater, I was excited to see the machine being put to work out on the open sea on the GTS Celebrity Constellation, a cruise ship that makes port calls at destinations including Boston, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Sweden.

The GTS Celebrity Constellation is pictured above, and to the left is a photo of the Bulb Eater in the ship's waste area.

Great to see the Bulb Eater being used in creative ways in interesting places around the world (or on the sea)! Keep up the good work!

Feel free to submit any stories or photos of how you’ve seen the Bulb Eater used in unique places.

Leave comments below or email me at aaron@aircycle.com.

Wanted: Your Ideas

2009-05-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

A core concept of this blog is that its content is interesting and relevant for our readers. So, that means I need to hear from you…what kind of topics should this blog address? What are the most important recycling, universal waste, or “green” issues facing you and your facility? What kinds of experts would you like to hear from as guest contributors? Finally, if you have an article, video, or any other content that you think would be helpful for our readers, feel free to share it. Leave your comments below or email me at aaron@aircycle.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

To stay up-to-date, make sure to subscribe to the blog via email or RSS feeds.

Beyond Bulb Recycling: How Do I Get LEED-Certified?

2009-05-26T09:50:00.001-07:00

Getting your building LEED-certified is an increasingly popular goal for environmentally conscious facility managers. However, a lot of people (including myself) have no clue what it actually takes to get their building LEED certified. While recycling your fluorescent bulbs, batteries, and other universal waste is absolutely necessary for a LEED rating, there are a ton of other things you can do to get LEED “points” as well. This great article from the Dallas Morning News gives multiple examples, as well as a list of how many points are required for different LEED ratings (Silver, Gold, Platinum, etc.).

Here’s a couple that I saw that are super-easy to do. Please post any of your ideas too!

Give preferred parking for fuel-efficient cars. (1 point)

Use low-emitting adhesives and sealants in flooring. (1 point)

Provide secure bike racks within 200 yards of the building entrance and provide showers and changing facilities for riders. (1 point)

For more information about LEED or the U.S. Green Building Council visit http://www.usgbc.org/

Not another boring corporate blog…

2009-05-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the brand new Air Cycle blog! My name is Aaron Griffith and I will be the lead blogger and your go-to guy for all information and discussions here on the blog. I currently collect or write most of the material on AirCycle.com, and I’m hoping that this blog will be a better way that I can help provide visitors with helpful info on recycling, important industry updates, and even the occasional entertaining video in my posts.

Here’s the thing- I can’t do this without you. Obviously this blog needs readers, but what it really needs to be is a conversation. I want everyone to feel free to comment on posts, suggest ideas for future posts, and discuss with each other whatever you would like. Hopefully this blog will be a place where you can connect with others that are interested in recycling, facility management, green technology, etc. Also, feel free to email me directly if you would like at aaron@aircycle.com with any questions or ideas that you may have.