The Sewing Mom

The Sewingmom has been hearing so much about the energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.  These bulbs save in so many ways.  These bulbs save money because the use 75% less electricity to get the same amount of light as a conventional light bulb.  The CFL bulbs last up to six times longer than a regular bulb which means a consumer has to buy fewer bulbs, and CFL bulbs do not burn as hot so they add less waste heat to your home or work environment. 

So, is there any disadvantage to using CFLs?  I’ve been asking this for a while now, ever since I learned on the local news that CFLs contain mercury.  The concern is this, what happens when the CFL bulb reaches the end of its useful life and gets tossed into the trash can?  Where does the mercury from inside the light bulb go?  Does it get into the ground in the landfill? 

I found my answer today in the September addition of the Texas Co-Op Power magazine.  The headline reads “Use Care When Disposing of CFLs”.  Okay, this does NOT sound good! Fortunately, the article stated that the level of toxic metal in a CFL’s tubing only about 5 milligrams.  This is a relatively small amount compared to a mercury thermometer which contains about 500 mg.  (Older mercury thermometers contain about 5,000 mg!)  Still, what happens to these CFLs when they are disposed of or even worse, accidentally broken?  Where does the mercury go?

There are definite guidelines for handling CFLs and I think these should be included in the packaging of all CFLs.

If a CFL is broken:

1.  Open windows and sweep up bulb fragments with a broom or vacuum.  DO NOT USE YOUR HANDS!
2. Wipe the area with a damp paper towel to get all the glass fragments.
3. Put all fragments and used paper towels into a plastic bag, seal the bag and place in an outside trash bin.
4. Wash your hands.

When a CFL has reached the end of its useful life:

1. Recycle it or take it to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site
2. If #1 can’t be done, seal the bulb in a plastic bag and place it in an outside trash bin.

While I’m still not clear about the level of mercury that will get into our landfills, I do feel somewhat more comfortable knowing there are more advantages than disadvantages to using CFLs.  What do you think?

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