Not a whole lot of news on compact fluorescent bulbs, but the absolute impracticality of them is illustrated in a consumer advisory piece in yesterday’s News & Observer of Raleigh. A sampling:
Because they contain trace elements of mercury,
disposing of the lights or cleaning up a broken one is not a simple
proposition…
Americans discard an estimated 670 million mercury-containing bulbs
a year, potentially releasing as much as four tons of mercury into the
environment each year….Disposal options: Don’t throw fluorescents in the
trash. The light will break and release mercury. In a landfill, it
could contaminate the ground. If you must throw a burned-out CFL into
the trash, seal it first in two plastic bags to prevent leakage.The preferred method is to take CFLs to a recycling facility or hazardous waste facility.
In the Triangle, you can take them to North Wake Household Hazardous
Waste Collection off Durant Road in Raleigh or South Wake Solid Waste
Management Facility off N.C. 55 in Apex….(both these locations are more than a half-hour from where I live)Cleanup: If a CFL breaks, air out the room for at
least 15 minutes. Shut off the central air conditioning or heating and
close all doors so that mercury does not spread through the house.Scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard
and place them in a glass jar or sealed plastic bag. Use duct or other
adhesive tape to clean up any remaining powder. Clean the area with
damp paper towels and dispose of the towels in a jar or bag.CFL don’ts: Do not use a vacuum cleaner: It will
disperse the mercury particles. Never use a broom to clean up mercury.
That also spreads mercury particles.If the mercury gets on your clothes, seal the clothes in plastic and discard or take to a hazardous waste facility.
But besides all that, they’re really worth it!
Cross-posted at Cooler Heads.
