BRIDGEVILLE, PA—Since its inception more than a decade ago, Brightline has maintained a core commitment to the manufacture of energy-efficient and environmentally responsible lighting products. The company’s decision to develop and promote systems based on advanced-phosphor fluorescent lamps was made for two essential reasons: because this is the best-performing technology for the target broadcast and videoconference markets, and because it represents sound environmental policy. Compared with incandescent lighting, fluorescent fixtures can reduce overall electricity demands by as much as 90%. Reducing demand means reducing emissions from power plants, which, in most of the U.S., means reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants—by far the leading source of atmospheric mercury and other contaminants.   

Of course, fluorescent lamps also contain very small trace amounts of mercury, none of which is released when the lamps are intact or in use. Even though it is considerably less harmful to the environment to break up and bury a fluorescent lamp in a landfill that it is to use an incandescent alternative, improper storage and disposal of fluorescent lamps could present a potential hazard. A number of states have passed or are considering legislation requiring mandatory storage/disposal measures.

Consequently, Brightline has decided to offer its customers the option of a recycling program that will resolve any issues of processing spent fluorescent lamps from the company’s fixtures. For a fee of $48.00, Brightline will include with each order a specially constructed, safety-lined, prelabeled lamp-recycling box that can store up to 60 lb of used lamps. (Given that the average operating life of a 1-lb, 55W biax lamp is between 8,000 and 10,000 hours, boxes should not have to be replaced frequently in most facilities.) The box comes with prepaid return freight via Fedex Ground—when a box is full, the customer simply needs to seal it and call Fedex for pickup. Lamps are sent to Brightline’s designated recycling partner, where the mercury is recovered and all other constituent components fully recycled under the strictest environmental guidelines. Upon request, Brightline will also forward to the customer a certificate of recycling with each returned box.

Effective immediately, the recycling program is an elegant solution that lends an added touch of “green” to what is already an earth-friendly technology. Brightline envisions this undertaking as customer service at its truest—customer service that is also service to a larger common good.

For inquiries or additional information about Brightline’s lamp-recycling program, please contact Casey Bonincontro at cbonincontro@brightlines.com.   

Brightline advanced fluorescent lighting products are recognized worldwide as the choice for superior performance across the entire spectrum of broadcast and videoconference applications. Product lines include SeriesONE studio fixtures, T-Series and Stealth-T fixtures for in-ceiling applications, and Studio CycSeries and SeriesTWO RGB color-changing fixtures for studio-cyclorama and architectural lighting.

Brightline is an Energy Star Partner of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
U.S. Department of Energy