Environmental News
Fluorescent Recycling Deemed a Failure
September 2009 (Wasteage.com): According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 397 million compact fluorescents were shipped in 2007 — a 1,790 percent increase from 2000. However, the recycling of spent household CFLs has been a failure. While an accurate household recycling rate is not known, two studies have estimated the rate to be between 2.0-6.7%. If these estimates are accurate, most intact CFLs enter municipal solid waste landfills.
CFLs are fragile and can break easily when "thrown away." The significance of the low recycling rate is the potential public and environmental health effects of the collective release of the small amount of mercury in each discarded CFL. For example, using the mean amount of 5mg per CFL, the total amount of mercury contained in the 2007 shipments of CFLs alone is 4,376 pounds.
White House announces new lighting standards
June 29, 2009 (AP): Aiming to keep the focus on climate change legislation, President Barack Obama put a plug in for administration efforts to make lamps and lighting equipment use less energy.
"I know light bulbs may not seem sexy, but this simple action holds enormous promise because 7 percent of all the energy consumed in America is used to light our homes and businesses," the president said, standing alongside Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the White House.
Can Mercury Be Cleaned Up When CFLs Break?
Broken Compact Fluorescent Lights Release Mercury Into the Air:
Over 100 Times the EPA Limit
August 28, 2008 (Natural News): Compact fluorescent light bulbs can release dangerous amounts of mercury into the air when they break and must be disposed of very carefully, according to a report by the state of Maine.
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