Recycling Compact Fluorescent Lights

Recycling Compact Fluorescent Lights: "Recycling Compact Fluorescent Lights

April 4, 2009 at 4:10 pm · Filed under Recycling

Compact Fluorescent LightOne of the first steps we can all take to ‘go green’ is switching to Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. And with good reason. CFL’s use only one quarter of the energy required for standard incandescent bulbs. A 15-watt CFL produces the same light as a typical 60-watt incandescent bulb and saves 45 watts for every hour you leave the light on.

Less power used means less greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants entering the atmosphere. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs are proven energy savers, and buyers like the fact they don’t have to change them for years.

While pricey, the benefits of CFL’s can’t be denied. However, there is the mercury problem. CFL’s contain small traces of mercury and there is no such thing as a safe level of mercury for your body, home or the environment.

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs require special disposal. Unfortunately only a tiny fraction of CFL’s are being properly disposed of. Most of them are thoughtlessly thrown out in the regular trash.

The Solution

We can all play a part by promising to properly dispose of every compact fluorescent light that we purchase. It also should be our goal to help spread the word about CFL recycling options. We must get every compact fluorescent light to a recycler or mercury reclamation center and out of landfills.

Four Ways to Play a Part:

Recycling Options - Find out the recycling options in your community. The easiest way is to bring your bulbs to one of the many Home Depot stores across Canada. Municipalities will also have their own system for recycling CFL bulbs.

Reward Responsible Retailers – Purchase CFL’s only from retailers who have take-back programs. Let them know how much you appreciate green retailers.

Tell Your Friends – Tell your friends, family and co-workers how important it is to recycle CFL’s. Provide them with any information you have found in your research.

Tweet About Your Options – Twitter is a great way to get the word out. Let people know about recycling CFL’s. Tell your friends on Facebook and email your relatives.

Choosing energy-efficient lighting is one step to help reduce our ecological impact. Replacing even one 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 15-watt CFL in each of Canada’s 12 million households could save up to $73 million a year in energy costs. We all need to play a part by becoming recycling superheroes."


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