New York Will Do a HazWaste Audit of 800 City Buildings

Under a settlement reached Monday with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the city agreed not only to comply with requirements, but also to surpass them by spending at least $300,000 on a multi-facility, self-audit program to assess compliance with hazardous waste management requirements.

The comprehensive audit program will cover more than 800 buildings owned or operated by the City of New York.

"Mercury and lead from such wastes can pose severe threats to people’s health if they are released into the environment when they are haphazardly tossed out," said George Pavlou, EPA acting regional administrator. “We are very happy that the city is taking steps to prevent these types of substances from entering the environment and is going beyond compliance to establish a very extensive self-monitoring project."

Fluorescent lamps contain mercury and must be disposed of safely. (Photo by Dori)

The program will play a critical role in protecting human health and the environment by identifying, correcting and preventing violations of environmental regulations. Under the agreement the city has also committed to attempt to increase the recycling of spent bulbs and used computer monitors at their facilities.

The settlement resulted from EPA inspections of seven buildings managed by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, an agency of the city, that revealed improper disposal of mercury-containing light bulbs and used computer monitors.

EPA inspections from 2003 to 2005 found that the department had failed to make a hazardous waste determination with regard to spent fluorescent lamps or used computer monitors, had failed to meet labeling requirements and had failed to package the waste properly to prevent damage or release of the toxics into the environment.

Exposure to mercury, a component of fluorescent bulbs, can adversely affect human nervous systems, and exposure to high levels can permanently damage the brain and kidneys. according to the EPA. Short-term exposure can result in lung damage, increased blood pressure and rashes.

Exposure to lead, found in computer monitors, may cause delayed neurological development in children and other adverse health effects in adults, including increased blood pressure, nephritis and cerebrovascular disease. the EPA says.

Both computer monitors and and fluorescent bulbs can be recycled or disposed of in a manner that lowers the risk of release into the environment.

Click here for more information on the management of mercury-containing lamps.

For more information on recycling computer monitors, click here.

Copyright Environment News Service, ENS, 2009. All rights reserved.