2007 Essays -
June
A Short Note on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs).
Compact fluoresecent light bulbs (CFLs) have been available for many years as energy-saving
alternatives to regular incandescent lighting. Prices on the bulbs have come down from over $20 a piece in the early 1990s to about $2 - $5 per bulb now, depending
on the type of bulb and where it is purchased.
Although I'd known about the bulbs for quite some time, I never purchased one until earlier this year. Before
I selected the bulb, I read the labels carefully in order to purchase the right CFL for my needs. All the packages listed warnings that the bulbs contained mercury, but that
wasn't a deterrent to purchasing one. Currently I have two 60 watt-equivalent bulbs. One is warrantied for five years with an estimated energy savings of $36 over the life of
the bulb. The other has a nine-year warranty with an estimate of $46 in energy savings during that period. Both were purchased for under $5.
About a month ago, as I was collecting information for the summer concerts, I happened to stop at the
Diamond Bar City Hall. As I was waiting for asssitance, I glanced at the public literature available and noticed a stack of plastic packages provided by a Tustin company called
Mercury Disposal Systems. The bags were labeled as safety bags for the disposal and recycling of broken fluorescent bulbs. After reading through their literature a bit further,
I found, among other things, that spent CFLs are considered hazardous waste, and that a vacuum should never be used to clean an area where a fluorescent bulb has been broken. The packaging
materials on the bulbs I had purchased contained only a vague phrase such as "Manage in accord with disposal laws," but said nothing about hazardous waste or clean-up procedures. I found this interesting, so as a
result, I decided to gather a bit of information on the subject and post it as a general reference for anyone who might find it useful. Several links are included for those wishing to obtain further
information.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)
 Though some CFLs are globular in shape, most are easily identifiable by sight due to their
unusual spiral form (Photo at left courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy). They can be purchased at most places where regular incandescent light bulbs are sold (home centers,
grocery stores, etc.), and they have been promoted for years as energy-saving alternatives to traditional lighting. Information available from the U.S. Department of Energy's ENERGY
STAR program states that "Lighting accounts for close to 20% of the average home's electric bill. Switching from traditional light bulbs to CFLs is an effective, accessible change every
American can make right now to reduce energy use at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions."
(See:
www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/ downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf)
CFLs and Mercury
All CFLs, as well as the fluorescent tube lights which have been present in homes, offices and other
buildings for decades, contain mercury. According to the same information cited above, "Mercury is an essential component of CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient
light source." The amount of mercury contained in each bulb is small, ". . . an average of five milligrams, which is roughly equivalent to an amount that would cover the tip of
a ball-point pen. No mercury is released when bulbs are intact or in use."
Why is Mercury a Concern?
Mercury is a neurotoxin that can affect the brain, spinal cord and other organs. Although the most common form
of mercury exposure in humans is from eating contaminated fish, people can also be exposed by inhaling vapors from broken items which contain mercury. Therefore I am including, verbatim,
the EPA's directions for dealing with mercury spills and broken fluorescent bulbs. This information can be found at
www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm. ( Please note: Some of the material found at this website has
changed since this essay first appeared. The text below is how it appeared in May-June 2007.) In my opinion it is of value to anyone with fluorescent bulbs (including CFLs) in their
home or office, especially locations where pregnant women or young children might be present.
SPILLS - WHAT NEVER TO DO WITH A MERCURY SPILL
• Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean up mercury (but see the "What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks" section below for more specific instructions about
vacuuming broken fluorescent light bulbs). The vacuum will put mercury into the air and increase exposure. The vacuum appliance will be contaminated and have to be thrown away.
• Never use a broom to clean up mercury. It will break the mercury into smaller droplets and spread them.
• Never pour mercury down a drain. It may lodge in the plumbing and cause future problems during plumbing repairs. If discharged, it can cause pollution of the
septic tank or sewage treatment plant.
• Never wash mercury-contaminated items in a washing machine. Mercury may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
• Never walk around if your shoes might be contaminated with mercury. Contaminated clothing can also spread mercury around.
WHAT TO DO IF A FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULB BREAKS
1. Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
2. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.
• Wear disposable rubber gloves.
• Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.
• Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.
• Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
3. Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it.
• If your state permits you to put used or broken fluorescent light bulbs in the garbage (*CA does not), seal the
bulb in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash (if no other disposal or recycling options are available).
4. The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put
the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.
Recycling Used CFLs
As stated earlier, most CFLs have a long life span - the bulbs I bought have 5- and 9-year warranties. Chances are that if you've
put in CFLs over the last few years, the original bulbs may still be in your homes or offices. According to the information found in the MDS packages, as of last year in California small businesses and
households are no longer permitted to deposit fluorescent bulbs (or batteries) in the trash. The MDS materials go on to state that "the purpose of the law is to keep toxic mercury and heavy metals from
entering the waste stream, polluting our water tables and eventually the food we eat." Recycle/dispose of all CFLs as hazardous waste.
If you are unfamiliar with hazardous waste facilities or unsure of where the closest disposal site is located, the following three websites
may be of immediate assistance:
1. www.lamprecycle.org. This site is listed on the packages of both bulbs I purchased, along with the
phone numbers (800) 378-6998 and (800) 435-4448. In addition to consumer information, the site also lists information for facilities managers, maintenance personnel, property
managers, etc.
2. www.earth911.org. This site allows you to find recycling centers by zip code. You can also click a link on
the home page (6-17-07) which will take you to an informative article entitled "Balancing Environmental Impact: Household Lighting."
3. www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/univwast/where.htm. This site offers a series of links to recycling information
based on location in the United States.
For those wanting to learn more about MDS, CFLs and mercury, lighting options and related subjects, here are a few other links:
• Mercury Disposal Systems (MDS) - www.nomerc.net
• EPA Mercury Facts - www.epa.gov/mercury/about.htm
• EPA Mercury Facts in Spanish - www.epa.gov/mercury/ espanol.htm, or link from the previously listed page
• EPA - www.epa.gov/mercury/consumer.htm
• U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - www.eere.energy.gov
• Energy Efficient Products - www.energystar.gov
• California Department of Toxic Substances Control - www.dtsc.ca.gov
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