Compact fluorescent lights – CFL facts & proper disposal
Wednesday, 23 February 2011 10:26
Contributed by Laura Kischitz, Sustainable Life Solutions
You have likely heard that compact-fluorescent lights, or CFLs, are better for the environment because they save so much energy despite containing trace amounts of mercury. Let's shed some light (forgive the pun) on some other facts about CFLs that you might not have heard. For example, did you know that electricity use is the main source of mercury emissions in the United States since mercury is emitted when coal is mined and burned to generate electricity? According to the EPA's Energy Star division, the US is "responsible for the release of 104 metric tons of mercury emissions per year. Most of these emissions come from coal-fired electrical power." The mercury emissions in the air settles into waterways and accumulates in fish, which in turn gets into our own food stream, causing the most harm to humans.
Mercury exposure risk from CFLs and other items
CFLs generally use about seventy percent less electricity and last ten times longer than incandescent light bulbs. Over its lifetime, the bulb will generate only 20% of the mercury emissions as its incandescent light bulb equivalent, assuming the CFL is properly recycled when it is finished. Even if the CFL isn't properly disposed of and ends up in a landfill, the mercury emissions is still only 27% as that of the incandescent equivalent - so CFLs are still better for the environment than are incandescent bulbs.
To get some perspective on the amount of mercury we are talking about here, a typical CFL contains about 4 milligrams (mg) of mercury, which amounts to about the size of a tip of a ball point pen. According to Energy Star, over the past year many manufacturers have reduced the amount of mercury in CFLs by at least 20% (and some even further) so they contain only 1.4 to 2.5 mg of mercury per bulb. A standard four foot fluorescent tube contains 40 mg of mercury or ten times as much as much as one CFL light bulb. A neon sign contains 100 mg, and a standard residential wall-mounted thermostat contains 3,000 mg or 750 times as much as one CFL light bulb.
Other areas where you may already be exposed to mercury are the metal dental fillings in your mouth. This is an area that isn't in the media much but many of us already are exposed to mercury and have been since childhood. Those sneakers in the 1990's with heels that lit up when children walked on them contained mercury as well. Mercury is also still used in various cosmetics, mascaras, etc., so check the cosmetic database at www.ewg.org to make sure your products are safe.
Safe disposal of CFLs
Do NOT put CFLs in the regular trash or recycling. If you do, they will get broken and release mercury into the environment.
To dispose of your unbroken CFL light bulb properly, handle the bulbs carefully and return them to your local DPW, Home Depot or Ikea which recycle used bulbs.
If a bulb should break, the following guidelines from the Massachusetts EPA should be followed.
Cleanup of broken CFLs or fluorescent tubes on hard surfaces:
- Open doors and windows for 15 minutes and allow vapors to dissipate before attempting cleanup.
- Wearing disposable gloves, scoop up the fragments with stiff paper or cardboard, and place in a container.
- Using sticky tape such as duct or packing tape, pick up any visible glass shards, powder, and mercury and then add to the container.
- Dampen a paper towel or using a wet wipes, clean surface area thoroughly and dispose of paper towels and gloves into the same container with the broken bulbs.
- Label the container "Universal Waste – Broken fluorescent lights" and date it. Store in a well ventilated and safe area until proper disposal can be made for hazardous materials. Most towns have at least one Hazardous collection day annually. The law allows you to store the waste for up to one year from the date the incident occured.
Cleanup of broken CFLs or fluorescent tubes on carpets:
Follow steps 1- 5 above. Set up fan to remove vapors and keep traffic to a minimum in this area for several days. Vacuum carpet and remove vacuum bag or empty and wipe out canister immediately after using it. Keep area ventilated well while vacuuming. If possible vent to outside during the next several times you are vacuuming the area.
Note: If carpet is in area where young children or pregnant woman may be exposed, it is recommended to cut out and replace carpet in section where breakage occurred.
In closing
If every household in the US changed just one incandescent light bulb to a CFL, it would save enough electricity to light three million homes. As long as you treat CFLs with care and dispose of them properly, using CFLs will use less electricity and help us as a country reduce polluting emissions of coal-fired power plants, while saving you hundreds of dollars over the life of the bulb.
About the author
Laura Kischitz is the co-founder and principal of Sustainable Life Solutions LLC, dedicated to helping people consume less electricity, energy, and toxins, and save money doing so.
