![]() In the meantime, consider buying from stores that already recycle, such as Ikea.įor more information on CFLs and proper disposal, please see the following fact sheets: As we switch to energy-saving lights, we also need to encourage our communities to provide local recycling facilities. Recycling options for CFLs are becoming more common call your local government or visit to see if there’s a drop-off point nearby. When a CFL burns out, years down the road, recycle it. Place all fragments in a sealed plastic bag and call 1-800-CLEAN-UP or go to to find out where to dispose of it. Finally, wipe the area with a damp, disposable paper towel to pick up all glass fragments. Then sweep it up instead of vacuuming it to minimize vaporizing the mercury (that’s when it becomes toxic). If a CFL breaks, first open nearby windows to disperse any vapor that may escape. Should a bulb break, take these simple precautions. The average CFL contains 4 to 5 mg of mercury – a smidgen compared to other everyday items such as thermometers (500 mg), older thermostats (3,000 mg), and typical office lights (40 mg). When disposed of properly, the trace amount of mercury in the bulbs does not threaten the environment. That means less of the toxin ends up in our drinking water and fish. So using CFLs slashes the amount of mercury we put into our air and surface water. A CFL eliminates three-fourths of the mercury pollution of a traditional light bulb: 3.3 mg versus 13.6 mg. ![]() How? CFLs require less energy to be generated by power plants, which tend to emit mercury. Bridges? Know some basic facts.Įven though CFLs contain some mercury, they actually reduce overall mercury pollution. After a mishmash of good and bad advice, she ended up with a $2,000 clean-up bill and a lot of fear ( read full story). When Brandy Bridges shattered a CFL spiral in her daughter’s bedroom, aware that it contained trace amounts of mercury, the concerned mother looked into proper disposal. A similar incident in Maine was a different story. I’m not worried about mercury exposure – they broke a couple of months ago, and my cats and I are fine. ![]() I opened the window, swept up the fragments, wiped the floor with a damp paper towel, put the towel and the broken CFLs in a plastic bag and tied it. ![]() Last year, in converting my apartment to energy-saving compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), I broke two. Erica Rowell, today’s guest blogger, is a Web Editor and Producer at Environmental Defense, and our resident expert on compact fluorescents. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |