I went to make local power company and bought about 60 eco friendly bulbs.... they were a steal brought them home excited to start on my Greener lifestyle .... when my husband said that he refused to put them in because they are mercury based (there is an extrememly small label on them explain this) and there is no safe way or green way of disposing of them without polluting the ground and if one breaks in your home it can be very toxic. He is a green fiend and reads about this stuff all the time ...... but is this really true? Does anyone have anymore info on this?
2007-05-15 10:45:19 · 12 answers · asked by MD 2 in Environment ➔ Other - Environment
http://www.lightbulbrecycling.com/index.html
2007-05-15 10:51:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If one breaks in your home, there is no problem. Just sweep it up and dispose of it in the same way you are suppose to dispose of other toxic chemicals like paint in your local town. There is enough mercury in the bulb to make you sick, but probably not enough to kill you. That is assuming you consume all of what is in the bulb. What you wipe up and dispose as required by local ordinance, will not hurt you unless you choose to eat it.
If it all vaporizes(and it won't) like another answer comments on, it still will not exceed safe levels in the air. That is assuming you have no ventilation. There is simply not enough mercury to make this overly dangerous.
The stories about how dangerous these bulbs are are being spread by people who rant about "treehuggers". They have no basis in reality.
Whole bulbs can be recycled and there is little or no waste. I believe another answer provides a link to that information.
Also the generation of the electricity used to power normal light bulbs pollutes the environment far far more than if you were to bury a dead or broken compact florescent in the ground after using it.
Your husband is worried about nothing. CFL are a good way to help the environment.
2007-05-15 11:24:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, fluorescent bulbs have mercury in them. If you break one, I don't know how you would clean it up, but vacuuming is not a good idea, as mercury vapors are very toxic.
I haven't done any specific research, and I do have several of the bulbs in my house--I need to research it before I break one! I don't know how I'll dispose of them, but it won't be in the trash. I recently started using them, though, and they say they're good for 10 years, so I'm hoping that the county will have a way of disposing of them safely by then. If not, I don't know what I'll do.
Look into LED bulbs, which have no toxicity problems but are very expensive.
I think the greenies are on the bandwagon because it looks good, offers a quick and cheap fix, and the problems won't surface in force for several years, by which time they will have made their reputation for being good. Call me cynical, but that's what I think.
2007-05-15 11:08:31 · answer #3 · answered by Maryfrances 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
YES, Call your local electric company or go to your local hardware company... I went to Lowe's and Home depot and found many varying types from soft to sun... including dimmable... I Installed fluorescent all through my house many were soft light and some were sun for areas needing more light, but with different types fluorescent light i reduced my electric bill by 33%, it was $126 per month now it is $84... in CA SCE has a program at local Hardware stores to reduce the cost of the bulbs (some of them)... My Wife and I swear by these things now...
2016-05-19 02:20:28 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the fluorescent bulbs DO contain minute amounts of mercury. And he is correct that there is no safe way to dispose of them. However, most of the materials of the bulb are recyclable.
Considering that they use less energy, and last longer than most incandescent bulbs, they're worth it.
2007-05-15 10:55:09 · answer #5 · answered by Tizzle 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your husband is right, they contain a small amount of mercury, so do the long fluorescent bulbs used in many kitchens and most business and office environments. I will post a link below so you can read more about it. They should be recycled and handled carefully to avoid breakage.
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/2100-22_11-6171806.html
2007-05-15 10:54:51 · answer #6 · answered by leslie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a very minute amount of murcury in the bulb. However, it is much greener to use them instead of the old incandescent bulbs.
2007-05-15 10:56:14 · answer #7 · answered by Alex 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard of this complaint before...why would people seeking a greener world do anything to harm it...
I'm gonna have to look into this one...
(Added) Woah...go to the link below...
2007-05-15 10:51:14 · answer #8 · answered by darknemesistattoo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they do contain mercury...I heard it on the news about a week ago...So my question is.....How can this be eco friendly??
2007-05-15 11:11:05 · answer #9 · answered by Chris O 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wow I learned something today....interesting
2007-05-17 16:45:19 · answer #10 · answered by VivianKnows 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mercury doesn't pollute the ground, it comes from the ground.
2007-05-15 10:59:44 · answer #11 · answered by Maus 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋