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June 15, 2008

WE NOW OFFER CFL RECYCLING It’s not required but it’s a great environmental option!

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@lightbulbsdirect.com.

Past Newsletters

May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007