The good and bad about Compact Fluorescent Lights

Compact fluorescent lights are trendy, environmentally sound and last forever — up to 15 times as long as incandescent bulbs. But they’re no angels. They are mini fluorescent lights, like the tube versions found in nearly every office in America. That means they contain calcium phosphate powder, which contains mercury. This gets into our landfills, and can eventually seep into our waterways.

September 16, 2008 3:58 pm
The good and bad about Compact Fluorescent Lights

Compact fluorescent lights are trendy, environmentally sound and last forever — up to 15 times as long as incandescent bulbs. But they’re no angels. They are mini fluorescent lights, like the tube versions found in nearly every office in America. That means they contain calcium phosphate powder, which contains mercury. This gets into our landfills, and can eventually seep into our waterways.

The amount of mercury is minimal, but mercury is considered hazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency. Incandescent bulbs have mercury in them, too. So we’re kind of stuck.

Proper disposal is the key. Contact your waste management operator to find out what is available in your community. This summer, The Home Depot launched its CFL recycling program. Just go to any Home Depot, give an employee your old bulb and they will properly dispose of it.