In early 2007, the governments of Australia, Canada and The United States independently announced legislation to ban the sale of traditional incandescent light bulbs by 2010 & 2012 and replace them with energy efficient lamps (typically fluorescent and/or compact fluorescent (CFL’s).
 
In 2010, Australia committed itself to having approximately 211,398,000 mercury containing lamps installed in households alone.  By 2012, 316,128,000 lamps will be installed in Canadian homes, and in the United States, approximately 3,204,730,290 mercury containing lamps will be installed. 

Despite being recognized as being four to five times more efficient than incandescent bulbs, the environmental benefits of using fluorescent lights may prove to be negligible unless consumers have access to the proper equipment to effectively dispose of these fixtures once they reach the end of their life expectancy.

merCovery Systems International provides equipment to municipal governments, retailers and other stakeholders, to separate and reclaim the mercury, phosphor powder, glass, metals and plastics to allow these core materials to be re-used and thereby effectively stop the further contamination of the environment caused by the improper disposal of "energy efficient" lights.