Metal Halide Lamps

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Metal halide lamps are a type of High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting commonly used in large indoor and outdoor spaces such as gymnasiums, stadiums, and street lighting. They operate by creating an electric arc through a mixture of mercury and metal halide gases. Due to their mercury content, metal halide lamps are regulated as Universal Waste and must be handled carefully to avoid breakage and environmental contamination.

Characteristics of Metal Halide Lamps:

  • Bright, white light with high efficiency.
  • Contain mercury and metal halide salts.
  • Encased in a quartz arc tube within a glass envelope.
  • Operate at high pressure and temperature.
  • Hazardous if broken due to mercury vapor release.

Metal Halide Lamps information

  • Burned-out metal halide bulbs from gymnasiums and athletic facilities.
  • Spent lamps from parking garages and stadium lighting.
  • Exterior security lights and street fixtures.
  • Lamps replaced during LED lighting upgrades or retrofits

Environmental Health & Safety:

Dipak Janda (Dk) Email: Dipakjanda@sfsu.edu

Telephone: (415)-542-8046

Mercury Vapor Lamp must be removed:

  • May accumulate for up to 1 year from the date of first disposal.
  • The accumulation start date must be clearly marked on the container.
  • Transfer to the designated Universal Waste storage area is required before the deadline.

Who Removes the Waste:
Trained Facilities or Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) staff retrieve lamps from collection areas.

Where It Is Taken:
Lamps are taken to the central Universal Waste storage location at SFSU’s hazardous waste management facility for inventory and safe storage

  • Pickups occur quarterly, or more frequently depending on volume or space constraints.
  •  Broken lamps must be placed in sealed, labeled containers and reported to EH&S immediately
  • Lamps are transported by a licensed Universal Waste transporter.
  • Final disposal and processing include:
    o Mercury recovery and distillation
    o Glass and metal component recycling
    o Safe disposal of any non-recoverable material
  • Handled in accordance with EPA (40 CFR 273) and California DTSC (Title 22 CCR) regulations.

 

Contact Information

For further information about the Metal Halide Lamps Management Program at SFSU or how you can get involved, please contact:

Environmental Compliance Specialist

Dipak Janda (Dk)