| High intensity discharge lamps with krypton 85 gas inside, featuring high energy saving characteristics and optimized quality, have been widely used in different applications to satisfy specific requirements. At end of life stage of these lamps, how to define the waste category has become a headache because of the dosing substances, radioactive krypton 85 gas and highly toxic mercury.Extended producer responsibility originates from Germany, aiming to prevent pollution, the responsibility of producers extends from waste water and exhaust discharge to reduce waste quantity and lower waste management cost. In the past, producers only focus on product quality and manufacturing cost, concept of environment management is illustrated as terminal disposal to comply with laws and regulations. Extended producer responsibility urges manufacturers to pay attention to environment issues during product life cycle. EPR system achieves success in Germany, Holland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway and Japan. With reference to these positive cases, this article suggests applying EPR system to waste management of krypton 85 contained high intensity discharge lamps.After a detailed study on general exemption principles of international safety standards and practices of EU radioactive waste management, this article proposes EPR approach to solve actual problems encountered by Chinese Krypton 85 contained HID manufacturers, to implement justification, authorization and exemption processes to regulate radioactive waste management. Projects are justified by means of feasibility study, environment impact assessment and industry hygiene assessment, only qualified practices are given authorization, only products where radioactive level is below exemption criteria are exempted. This article also gives thorough explanation of aspects where special attention is needed for successful implementation of EPR system in radioactive high intensity discharge lamp waste management. |
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