COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS
We use these. Not to be green...I'm not green but to be frugal...I like frugal. I will admit I do not like the light they produce at all. I get annoyed that they take a moment...or few...to light and warm up. But I'm used to it. With compact fluorescent light bulb in addition to other things, I was able to reduce my electric bill down to nearly $10 a month when we lived in Michigan. Sadly I haven't been able to duplicate that here in Indiana...not by a long shot. Anyway...we have purchased and use our fair share of compact fluorescent light bulbs.
I had no idea that we weren't supposed to throw these in the regular trash can.
PROPER HANDLING AND DISPOSAL
EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:
Due to the mercury content in CFLs, consumers must be sure to properly dispose of CFLs as they would paint, batteries, thermostats and other hazardous household items. DO NOT THROW CFLs AWAY IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE IF BETTER OPTIONS EXIST.
They don't...I checked. There is no place with in reasonable...and unreasonable...driving distance to recycle these where I live. So they end up in my trash can. I also had no idea that they contained mercury (feeling a little silly that I didn't know) and have broken a few in the past:
EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:
1. Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
2. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.
Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands).
Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.
Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.
Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
3. Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it.
If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the CFL in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash (if no other disposal or recycling options are available).
Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.
4. The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.
So...there is only a "little" mercury in these bulbs. But how many people are disposing of them properly? How many people like me have broken one in their homes and never really thought much about it? How many of these bulbs and how much mercury is ending up in landfils? Is that really a benefit for the environment? I've got two that have burned out...I'm not sure I'm willing to buy anymore.
Here is a PDF:
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
An article about a broken CFL:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55213
Untitled Comment
Posted by haflinger on Thursday 31 May 2007 at 2:25 PM - Link
They take these at our land fill.. We also use these bulbs HB doesn't like them because you can't dim them we have dimmer swithces every where in the house. On saving its hard to tell for us our electric use here in Maine is very costly... haflinger
Mercury
Posted by mejerrymouse on Thursday 31 May 2007 at 5:18 PM - Link
Yeah, there is just a "small amount" of mercury in vaccinations too...they don't make such a big deal about injecting it into us or our little ones. What a joke!
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