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Dear Eartha,
I’ve read several of your pieces on replacing light bulbs with CFLs. It seems that as we encourage people to use CFLs, the need to recycle them in a proper manner also needs to be emphasized. Have you done any research on this?
— Deb, Breckenridge
I’ve read several of your pieces on replacing light bulbs with CFLs. It seems that as we encourage people to use CFLs, the need to recycle them in a proper manner also needs to be emphasized. Have you done any research on this?
— Deb, Breckenridge
I have to admit, I am mildly obsessed with this topic. I have done research on the life cycle assessments; return on investment; recycling aspects, such as educating people on why and where to do so; and currently have been researching energy efficient alternatives because of the mercury contained in compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs.
The fact of the matter is when CFLs are spent they should be recycled with a local household hazardous waste (HHW) program because of the 5 milligrams of mercury in them. All fluorescent bulbs, even the long tubes common in office buildings, should be recycled through a hazardous waste facility.
Here at Eartha Headquarters, we try to make sure everyone knows of the mercury content and how to safely dispose of spiral and tube fluorescent bulbs. We do this because, frankly, the manufacturers don’t do much to inform their customers of the mercury content. In fact, because the warning label about the mercury content on the CFL packaging is so small that it is almost illegible, we place a big round sticker with recycling information on all of the bulbs that come through our hands. If you know of anyone who sells CFLs and wants some of the stickers, please contact us.
In Summit County we currently offer three options for recycling fluorescent bulbs: at the High Country Conservation Center (HCCC) office in Frisco (970) 668-5703; at the Ecoasis in Breckenridge (970) 547-0147; or by appointment at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP) by Keystone (970) 468-9263 ext. 1 for the gatehouse. If you are a business owner, call HCCC and we’ll connect you to the right people to get those bulbs safely recycled.
While discussing mercury (a neurotoxin) it’s important to look at primary sources of mercury pollution, such as coal-fired power plants. A coal-fired power plant emits 13.6 milligrams of mercury in order to produce the electricity needed to use an incandescent bulb; to illuminate a CFL, 3.3 milligrams of mercury are emitted by the same power plant.
Even if the CFL’s mercury happens to get into the environment (which we try very hard to deter), an incandescent bulb will still emit approximately 5mg more mercury than the CFL. However, since CFLs use 2/3 less energy than incandescent bulbs, when properly handled and disposed of, CFLs can prevent mercury from entering our environment.
Moreover, coal-fired power plants are the third largest contributor of greenhouse gas emission in the U.S. Using less power means healthier air, cleaner groundwater and less destructive mining. I could go on and on about CFLs, but there is much more to the ever-growing world of energy efficient lighting products than CFLs, such as the light emitting diode.
Light emitting diodes (LED) bulbs have been around for a while. You know the little red light that stays on while your coffee maker is plugged in (which, by the way, is still using energy — unplug that phantom load!), is an LED. Or that bright white, almost bluish, light emitted by your head lamp when camping? That’s an LED. But don’t be fooled into thinking LEDs are all blue light. From recessed light fixtures that emit a very nice, warm glow to fun color-changing Christmas light bulbs, LEDs come in all shapes, colors and sizes.
Plus, LEDs use 85 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, can last tens of thousands of hours depending on the bulb and don’t contain any mercury. One company that sells a recessed fixture boasts that you won’t have to change the bulb in the fixture for 20 years, their website is www.llfinc.com.
Along with going down the path to enlightenment, LEDs are going down in price. Just last year I looked into purchasing a string of LED Christmas lights but decided not to because of the price. This year the Ecoasis has a large selection of affordable strings of LEDs including: classic white bulbs, large and small; big and small colorful bulbs reminiscent of holidays past; and they even have cool net lights. Plus, by purchasing strings of LED lights, you’ll save money compared to stringing up regular, outdated Christmas lights.
In addition to mentioning the different options for LED bulbs, I just can’t resist relaying more information on the CFL. CFLs are also available in a great variety like soft white light, dimmable, three-way and more. A test by Popular Mechanics in the May 2007 issue showed that CFLs outperformed incandescent bulbs not only in efficiency, but also lumens and color temperature.
Yes, the questions on the complicated compact fluorescent are many, and thanks to a mild obsession, I’m always happy to answer them on my own path to enlightenment.
Eartha Steward is written by Carly Wier, Holly Loff, and Beth Orstad, consultants on all things eco and chic at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation in our mountain community. Eartha believes that you can walk gently on our planet, even if you’re wearing stylie shoes.
Submit questions to Eartha at eartha@highcountryconservation.org with Ask Eartha as the subject or to High Country Conservation Center, PO Box 4506, Frisco, CO 80443.
The fact of the matter is when CFLs are spent they should be recycled with a local household hazardous waste (HHW) program because of the 5 milligrams of mercury in them. All fluorescent bulbs, even the long tubes common in office buildings, should be recycled through a hazardous waste facility.
Here at Eartha Headquarters, we try to make sure everyone knows of the mercury content and how to safely dispose of spiral and tube fluorescent bulbs. We do this because, frankly, the manufacturers don’t do much to inform their customers of the mercury content. In fact, because the warning label about the mercury content on the CFL packaging is so small that it is almost illegible, we place a big round sticker with recycling information on all of the bulbs that come through our hands. If you know of anyone who sells CFLs and wants some of the stickers, please contact us.
In Summit County we currently offer three options for recycling fluorescent bulbs: at the High Country Conservation Center (HCCC) office in Frisco (970) 668-5703; at the Ecoasis in Breckenridge (970) 547-0147; or by appointment at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP) by Keystone (970) 468-9263 ext. 1 for the gatehouse. If you are a business owner, call HCCC and we’ll connect you to the right people to get those bulbs safely recycled.
While discussing mercury (a neurotoxin) it’s important to look at primary sources of mercury pollution, such as coal-fired power plants. A coal-fired power plant emits 13.6 milligrams of mercury in order to produce the electricity needed to use an incandescent bulb; to illuminate a CFL, 3.3 milligrams of mercury are emitted by the same power plant.
Even if the CFL’s mercury happens to get into the environment (which we try very hard to deter), an incandescent bulb will still emit approximately 5mg more mercury than the CFL. However, since CFLs use 2/3 less energy than incandescent bulbs, when properly handled and disposed of, CFLs can prevent mercury from entering our environment.
Moreover, coal-fired power plants are the third largest contributor of greenhouse gas emission in the U.S. Using less power means healthier air, cleaner groundwater and less destructive mining. I could go on and on about CFLs, but there is much more to the ever-growing world of energy efficient lighting products than CFLs, such as the light emitting diode.
Light emitting diodes (LED) bulbs have been around for a while. You know the little red light that stays on while your coffee maker is plugged in (which, by the way, is still using energy — unplug that phantom load!), is an LED. Or that bright white, almost bluish, light emitted by your head lamp when camping? That’s an LED. But don’t be fooled into thinking LEDs are all blue light. From recessed light fixtures that emit a very nice, warm glow to fun color-changing Christmas light bulbs, LEDs come in all shapes, colors and sizes.
Plus, LEDs use 85 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, can last tens of thousands of hours depending on the bulb and don’t contain any mercury. One company that sells a recessed fixture boasts that you won’t have to change the bulb in the fixture for 20 years, their website is www.llfinc.com.
Along with going down the path to enlightenment, LEDs are going down in price. Just last year I looked into purchasing a string of LED Christmas lights but decided not to because of the price. This year the Ecoasis has a large selection of affordable strings of LEDs including: classic white bulbs, large and small; big and small colorful bulbs reminiscent of holidays past; and they even have cool net lights. Plus, by purchasing strings of LED lights, you’ll save money compared to stringing up regular, outdated Christmas lights.
In addition to mentioning the different options for LED bulbs, I just can’t resist relaying more information on the CFL. CFLs are also available in a great variety like soft white light, dimmable, three-way and more. A test by Popular Mechanics in the May 2007 issue showed that CFLs outperformed incandescent bulbs not only in efficiency, but also lumens and color temperature.
Yes, the questions on the complicated compact fluorescent are many, and thanks to a mild obsession, I’m always happy to answer them on my own path to enlightenment.
Eartha Steward is written by Carly Wier, Holly Loff, and Beth Orstad, consultants on all things eco and chic at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation in our mountain community. Eartha believes that you can walk gently on our planet, even if you’re wearing stylie shoes.
Submit questions to Eartha at eartha@highcountryconservation.org with Ask Eartha as the subject or to High Country Conservation Center, PO Box 4506, Frisco, CO 80443.
