Those ever-increasingly popular Compact Fluorescent Bulbs which save households $12 – $20 a month in energy costs come with a little extra work and responsibility. Improper disposal of them creates a hazard because these light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury. Were you aware of this?? I bet not, as industry professionals estimate that the recycling rate for these bulbs is at around two percent!!If you already utilize compact fluoresent light bulbs, you have (or should have!) been seeking out local hazardous wastes programs or small retail chains such as True Value and IKEA who are willing to collect the bulbs for recycling. Others of you were waiting for retailers such as Wal-Mart to designate a recycling day, or bought kits to mail the bulbs to a recycling facility.
There’s now a new option in recycling compact fluorescent bulbs, and it’s your local Home Depot. So if you haven’t been recycling your compact fluorescent bulbs, there’s no excuse! Why?? First thing, a bulb that breaks in your home pollutes – it’s vapors can harm people and pets as well as impact the environment. Secondly, your local Home Depot now will take back old compact fluorescents in all of its stores in the United States. This will be the nation’s most widespread recycling program for the bulbs. With Home Deopot having 1,973 stores, they estimate that 75% of the homes in the United States are within 10 miles of one of their stores.
What’s next for the world of compact flouroescent light bulbs? Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been looking into putting bulb drop-off boxes at post offices which would give consumers another option for recycling. Recently, Brown University’s Center for Environmental Studies recently developed a box that absorbs mercury so there would be no worries should a bulb break in the box.
What do you do if a bulb breaks? Click on the Link at the end of this blog for a handy, two-page publication you can read and print out. In the meantime, handle and dispose of your compact fluorescent light bulbs responsibly … there’s no excuse!!
Managing mercury-containing compact fluorescent lamps for households
5 Comments
7 May, 2009 at 3:24 pm
emm. love it
26 May, 2009 at 2:56 am
all thanks
26 June, 2009 at 3:07 am
It agree, the useful message
3 July, 2009 at 6:43 am
Useful question
11 August, 2009 at 4:11 am
Yes you are right.I agree with you..Compact Fluorescent Bulbs are lot more efficient.If a bulb breaks, i will pick up all the broken glasses using plastic cover and throw them out of house.Thanks for the useful message.