Week 26 - CFLs: Yes or No?

Before I begin I would like to point out this post marks the half way point in my “going green” adventure. To date it’s been fairly easy and really just involves paying attention; being aware of all my options. In the last 6 months I have noticed a ton of environmentally friendly products hit the market, providing more choices at realistic price points. For me the most exciting thing to happen since I began this blog is, both grocery stores in our town now offer reusable grocery bags at $.99! I think it’s great because they are available to all, are more than reasonably priced and will make a truly positive change for the environment with very little effort.

Now onto CFLs a.k.a.: compact fluorescent lights. I have to say with what I’ve been reading the last few months, I’m miffed. Here’s why. For about the last year we have been inundated by media from various sources (including environmental and governmental) encouraging everyone to switch from incandescent light bulbs to the new energy saving CFLs. We were led to believe the biggest hurdle for us would be the upfront higher cost of these bulbs and were assured we would experience savings over time. Using these bulbs would greatly reduce our energy expenditure and many countries including ours, have plans to eliminate incandescent bulbs altogether.

What we have not heard is CFLs contain mercury and as such are considered hazardous waste which requires specific methods and locations for disposal. We also have not heard, if we break one of these bulbs in our homes we have a hazardous waste situation; we have released mercury into the air. What’s the deal? Have we exchanged one problem for another? That is, greater energy consumption for hazardous waste?

Well here are some key points from National Geographic News (to read the article in it’s entirety visit news.nationalgeographic.com):

1. CFLs' cool-burning illumination is made possible by a pinch of poison—about five milligrams of mercury sealed inside every glass tube—and the need for the element is unlikely to change anytime soon.

2. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and long-lived environmental contaminant, and even the small amount present in CFLs poses a problem. When the bulbs break, either in the house or at a waste disposal site, their mercury content is released.

3. "There's a lot of misleading information out there," said Joel Hogue, president of Elemental Services and Consulting, an Ohio-based company specializing in the cleanup of sites contaminated with mercury. "But when people learn the facts, the level of hysteria dies down." Like with many other household products, Hogue said, the use of CFLs requires some commonsense precautions. But if a bulb breaks, his company's clean-up services are not required. "There's an extremely small amount of mercury in those bulbs," "It's a very minimal risk" and can easily be cleaned up at home.

4. One CFL contains a hundred times less mercury than is found in a single dental amalgam filling or old-style glass thermometer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

5. A compact fluorescent bulb can produce the same amount of light for less than quarter of the energy and last eight to ten times as long.

6. Because of these benefits, CFLs are widely seen as an "easy" first step for nations seeking to reduce global warming. The burning of coal for electrical power is a major source of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is now widely believed to be changing the earth's climate.

7. According to a recent report by the Washington, D.C.-based Earth Policy Institute, a worldwide shift to CFLs would permit the closing of more than 270 coal-fired power plants. Switching to CFLs in the U.S. alone could save the energy output of 80 plants.

8. For environmentalists, the clincher is that by requiring less energy, CFLs will actually cut down on mercury pollution produced by coal burning, and the EPA agrees.

Okay! It’s #8 which puts it into perspective.

While the use of mercury in these bulbs hasn’t been shouted from the rooftops (although it is labeled on the bulbs’ boxes, but who reads those?), it's origins have not been explained either. We just know it’s dangerous. More importantly, the average person probably has no idea to what extent we are already exposed to mercury.

What is mercury (from the EPA)? Mercury is an element (Hg on the periodic table) found naturally in the environment. Mercury emissions in the air can come from both natural and man-made sources. Coal-fired power plants are the largest man-made source because mercury that naturally exists in coal is released into the air when coal is burned to make electricity. Coal-fired power generation accounts for roughly 40 percent of the mercury emissions in the U.S.

This explanations tells us we will have mercury in varying degrees, one way or another. But here’s the kicker: deliberately bringing mercury into my home! I had to really think about this. What other hazardous materials do I have already? Paint, cleaning products, oil, gasoline, batteries and I may have a couple tins of tuna. I think what it comes down to is this: these bulbs are something new and new things can make us nervous. There’s no doubt about it, we could have been provided with a lot more information AND I believe given the life of these bulbs, our government and manufacturers just felt they would have a lot of time to figure out pesky details like recycling availability and disposal procedures. They should have been upfront.

Our key concerns are how to dispose of spent bulbs and how to clean up broken ones. Here’s how from Energystar.gov‘s FAQ August 2007:

What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?

CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If a CFL breaks in your home, follow the clean-up recommendations below. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly (see below).

What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?

EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or http://www.earth911.org/ to identify local recycling options.

If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. CFLs should not be disposed of in an incinerator.

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a warranty. If the bulb has failed within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?

The following steps can be performed by the general public:

**Never allow children or pregnant women near the spill area!!
**Do not use a vacuum or broom!!

1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
2. Remove all metal jewelry, which might attract mercury magnetically.
3. Use disposable rubber gloves, if available (i.e., do not use bare hands).
4. Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag.
5. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag.
6. Place all cleanup materials in a second sealed plastic bag and put it in the outdoor trash container or in another outdoor protected area for the next normal trash disposal. Note: some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken to a local recycling center.
7. Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.

If a fluorescent bulb breaks on a rug or carpet:

1. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner, following the steps above. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
2. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag or vacuum debris in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.

For both:

1. Leave the window open and turn on a fan to air out the room for at least 24 to 48 hours.
2. If you've touched mercury or are concerned about your exposure, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Here's one more from me:

1. Ensure everyone in your house knows how to deal with a broken bulb.

I know it sounds scary! Initially I wanted them out of my house, but then I calmed down. I thought about how often I’ve actually broken a light bulb (maybe twice in my life) and knowing how to clean it up safely definitely makes me feel better. The next thing I thought was, how disposing of them is a pain. But 1) the mercury recovered is completely recyclable and 2) using them makes such a difference to the environment - so what’s a little inconvenience? In the end the answer to the question “CFLs: Yes or No?” is yes (I think, at least for me). But with this one, I’m not putting ANY pressure on you!