As energy prices continue to rise, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are increasing in popularity throughout households and the work-place. Although CFLs are energy efficient, they contain small amounts of mercury which have the potential of causing harm if broken. Despite the risk, the advantages of using CFLs make them an attractive energy saving product. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if every home in America replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.
If properly handled and disposed of CFLs can be safe and efficient. Everyone is pitching in to make the recycling of CFLs as pain free of a task as possible. Retailers including Home Depot have begun to offer compact fluorescent recycling containers at stores nationwide. Lawrence also offers residents a facility to further encourage proper disposal of hazardous materials like CFLs. The Lawrence Waste Reduction and Recycling Division, 320 NE Industrial Lane, is another location where you can take fluorescent light bulbs, old mercury thermometers and various other household chemicals. This service is free to all Douglas County residents by appointment only.
Kathy Richardson, Operations Supervisor says that because compact fluorescents are less expensive than in the past, she has seen more residents try to recycle them.
“We have seen people bringing in bulbs which burnt out prematurely,” Richardson said.
Richardson reminds residents that they can often be reimbursed by the light bulb manufactures for defective bulbs. She also mentioned that the older CFLs that are being recycled contain more mercury in them than those being sold today.
CFLs are being considered as the first option when it comes to building green. They offer an incentive to homeowners and businesses that want to reduce energy consumption. They are however not the only option when it comes to choosing lighting. Steve Hughes is an architectural engineer who is using energy efficient technology in his current projects. Hughes said that light emitting diodes (LEDs) are in the stage of development that compact fluorescents were 10 to 15 years ago.
“They are very expensive but there isn’t a problem with mercury,” Hughes said.
Patty Quinlan on mercury poisoning
Video: Matt Bristow
Although they can pose as a health risk to consumers, CFLs are not causing an increased amount of mercury poisoning cases. Patty Quinlan, Supervisor of Nursing at Watkins Memorial Health Center, says they only have patients who suspect they have mercury poisoning. She said this occurs about every year and a half.
“After testing the patients, the results are always negative,” Quinlan said.
She said that she hasn’t had any patients who have come in contact with mercury from CFLs. She said it is more likely for someone to ingest mercury from frequently eating contaminated fish than from light bulbs containing mercury.
Despite the mercury warning that all fluorescent bulbs are labeled with, consumers are finding that the benefits outweigh the hazards. As long as they want to save money on energy bills, CFLs will remain a product that is worth the risk.
To learn more about The Home Depot's CFL Bulb Recycling Program visit Eco Options
If you break a CFL here are some tips the EPA recommends to take to ensure your safety.
To learn more about the element mercury visit mercuryexposure.org