New Lightbulbs Mercury Hazard?....?

Question

Why is it that our government always only thinks things half way through??

In Canada, within 5 years regular lightbulbs will be phased out, replaced with these new energy saving bulbs...but so far no one has thought ahead as to how to dispose of these.

I find it disturbing to read this article clip below. Just consider the future hazard this will pose! So much for "saving" the environment!

"When that happens with a compact fluorescent bulb (when it breaks), the mercury vaporizes, travels in a general northern direction with the atmosphere and is deposited. It then is absorbed into plant and animal systems, as well as the soil.


Last month, Health Canada issued new recommendations for fish consumption, due to rising levels of mercury that has made its way into the food chain.


What's needed, said Pushchak, is a curbside collection system for all household hazardous waste. "


So until then, I guess we're to enjoy being slowly poisoned to death.

I guess I should state for those who don't know that all these energy saving bulbs have a small quantity of mercury in them...and when they are at the end of thier life they actually smell like they are burning (that's how they fizzle out and die) and they could actually be a hazard as I was reading they shouldn't be used in covered fixtures. Never did hear more on that subject. Not all they are cracked up to be at the moment are they!?!?!

Answer 1

You should consider that mercury emissions from power plants get into rain clouds and come down in lakes and rivers, poisoning fish and the people who eat them. Coal-fired power plants in the US are the largest source of mercury, spewing 50 tons a year into the air -- about 40 percent of the total.

Whilst the amount of mercury used in production a CFL bulb is at most 6mg, the average mercury content is 4mg. The total emissions of mercury created by a CFL bulb from electricity consumption over its lifetime is about 2.4mg of mercury. In comparison the emissions from an incandescent light bulb is about 10mg. Therefore overall CFLs result in a reduced amount of mercury emitted over the lifetime of a CFL bulb. The real gain is the reduction of 38kg of Co2 per CFL per year and an overall saving of 14% on your electricity bill.

To ensure the safe disposal of CFL bulbs you should return them to the retailer, manufacturer or to an appropriate recycling facility, for help locating a recycling centre visit http://www.earth911.org.

Once collected the bulbs are crushed in a machine that uses negative pressure ventilation and a mercury absorbing filter allowing the mercury to be reclaimed. Therefore if you use a CFL with renewable energy and recycle it (as I do), the mercury emmission level is actually negated.

In countries where recycling facilities do not exist, you should contact the manufacture who should have details of how you can safely dispose of the CFLs.

If you break a CFL, clean up broken bulbs with care. Open windows and allow to circulate to the affected area. Do not allow children or pregnant woment to enter the affected area. First sweep up all of the glass fragments and phosphor powder (do not vacuum), then place in a plastic bag. Wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up stray shards of glass or fine particles, and place the used towel in the plastic bag as well.

For proper disposal of broken bulbs, the best solution is to save them for a community household hazardous waste collection.


Note: It is assumed the emissions from electricity consumption is from standard electricity supply. Should renewables be used then the emissions of mercury would be 0mg (not including the production of the renewable source), however for the use of incandescent bulbs to be effective we would need to be using a high proportion of renewable energy.


I do however believe the infrastructure for recycling needs to be improved. One suggestion is, like bottles & cans we run a deposit scheme, or rebate scheme, where each bulb recycled gives a refund or discount off a new bulb.


PS ... you can now get CFLs with ultra-low mercury levels.

http://howtosaveenergy.blogspot.com/2007/05/cfl-mercury-myths.html

Energy Saver
http://howtosaveenergy.blogspot.com
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Answer 2

No, the compact fluorescent lightbulbs actually REDUCE mercury pollution. You're exactly right about this, you have to think things ALL the way through.

Fossil fuels contain mercury. Using incandescent bulbs causes more mercury to be emitted from power plants. More than the tiny amount that is in a CFL.

It's better if you dispose of old CFLs properly so that even the tiny amount of mercury is not released. But, no matter how they're disposed of, CFLs reduce mercury pollution.

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/sustainable/Powerplay%20articles/16Powerplay.Mercury.CFL.html

Answer 3

Here's what you need to do. Open a window for ventilation, SWEEP up the glass shards and place them in a plastic bag, WIPE up the area with a damp paper towel and also place this in the plastic bag. Take it to your local Hazardous Waste recycling/disposal plant. There is mercury in the CFL's, but less than what is in the regular fluorescent bulbs. You do NOT need to spend all that money to have it cleaned up. If you're REALLY freaked out about it, wear a face mask and rubber gloves while you're cleaning it up.

Answer 4

recycling reduces throwing these bulbs in different/ unwanted places and can also save raw materials and electric power or gas/coal.thus reducing pollution.the same companies that are producing CFLs can collect used bulbs through their distribution system.

Answer 5

Lets Make the most of the time we have left...Party at my house!!