Newsletter
June 15, 2008
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WE
NOW OFFER CFL RECYCLING
It’s
not required but it’s a great environmental option!
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For years, one major impediment
to full-scale use of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL’s) has been how to
dispose of them when finished. To safely dispose of a CFL, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) advises sealing a spent bulb in two plastic baggies
before putting it in the trash.
Here’s the good
news: Now virtually all components of a CFL can be recycled! The metal end
caps, glass tubing, mercury and phosphor powder can all be separated and reused.
Recyclers often sell the metallic portions as scrap metal. The recycled glass
can be remanufactured into other glass products. The mercury can be recycled
into new fluorescent light bulbs and other mercury-containing devices.
Here are a few disposal,
recycling and mercury-related facts:
- Mercury is an essential
component of many energy-efficient light bulbs. The two most common types
of energy-efficient lighting that contain mercury are Fluorescent Bulbs and
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Bulbs.
- Fluorescent lamps contain
small amounts of Mercury: about 5 milligrams, about 1/100th the amount in
a mercury fever thermometer or just enough to cover the tip of a ball point
pen.
- No mercury is released
when the bulbs are intact or in use; exposure is possible only when a bulb
has been broken. The EPA provides information on how to clean up a broken
bulb. Click
Here.
- The use of mercury-containing
(fluorescent) bulbs for general indoor lighting makes good environmental sense.
These bulbs are significantly more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs
because they require less energy to provide lighting. Electrical generation
from coal-burning power plants also releases mercury into the environment.
The use of fluorescent bulbs in place of incandescent bulbs lowers energy
use and thus reduces the associated release of mercury from many power plants.
- Compact
Fluorescent Lamps are more cost effective because they use up to 75% less
electricity and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Light Bulbs, Etc. now offers
a convenient, cost-effective way to recycle your CFL’s. Simply order a
container designed specifically for recycling your bulbs pack the container
as instructed. The container purchased includes a pre-paid shipping label for
return to the Recycling Company. Click
Here for complete CFL and Fluorescent recycling information.
If you have batteries, ballasts,
other types of bulbs or large quantities of material that need to be recycled,
contact a Light Bulbs, Etc. Customer Service Representative at 1-888-757-9591
or via email at inquiry@gogreenutilities.com.
Past Newsletters
May
2008
April 2008
March 2008
February
2008
January
2008
December
2007
November
2007
October
2007
