Lighting Fair NYC this year was home to amazing light technology from energy efficiency featuring LED technology to the reduction of mercury content in the fluorescent bulbs. As an environmentalist I was impressed by the advancement of technology in lighting energy efficiency but was scared at the same time that we as consumers may be short sighted in our quest for energy efficiency by ignoring the proper disposal of these bulbs.
The LED technology impressed me with its long life and lack of mercury content. In addition, Phillips and SLI lighting both featured low mercury content in their fluorescent bulbs. SLI lighting featured the most impressive environmental concern with all of their fluorescent bulbs containing low level of mercury and their bulb glass was free of lead.
During my discussion with Flemming Jensen, Vice President of Industrial/Commercial Sales at SLI lighting about why the company was producing low mercury fluorescent bulbs and lead free glass, he made me aware of our current disposal practices of fluorescent lighting. The world is pushing for more efficient lighting but has not looked at the disposal of the compact fluorescent. Giants like Wal-Mart and Home Depot are offering lower priced fluorescent bulbs to encourage consumers to save energy. It seems that no one has asked the question what about the disposal of these products after they no longer work.
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Although the world is taking notice that we need to stop global warming, there should be a simultaneous effort being made to require easily accessible places to dispose of the fluorescent lighting. The giants like Wal-Mart, could easily exchange burnt out fluorescent bulbs for new ones with a discount offered to encourage people to recycle.
Cities and counties could have more accessible place for people to drop off their bulbs like they drop off their newspapers and plastics. The only way for more easily accessible recycling to be achieved is for the consumers to demand it. In addition, we can demand that bulbs are made of low levels of mercury and lead free glass. We have the power in this world because we speak in the language of money. We have asked for more energy efficient technology; let’s now demand for our landfills to remain lead and mercury free.
greenlady says
May 14, 2007 at 2:58 pmHi, do you live near an IKEA? They accept CFL bulbs for recycling. Also there is a new bulb on the market called ecoLED. It has no mercury. If you google ecoLED you can find the company. Have a great day!
admin says
May 14, 2007 at 5:02 pmThanks for the tip, Green Lady! So if you are visiting IKEA, take your CFLs and check out their sustainable furniture. Green Lady, you must have read my mind. I will be posting about LIGHTFAIR and what I learned about LEDs. I did find the company (ecoleds) and will be speaking to them. Just be careful about LEDs since it depends on your appplication. What I have learned is right now they are very directional lighting. The one on EcoLED that I saw produces 1.6 watts. At LIGHTFAIR a bulb that produced 1 watt was considered ambient lighting (mood lighting not reading lighting.) I will let you know.
paul says
January 2, 2008 at 2:51 pmi recently made the push to change my bulbs to compact flu. then i found out about the mercury and started asking the same questions you did. you’re right – most consumer are not going to take the time and hassle to dispose these correctly. it’s a short-sighted solution that is being business driven. i’m awaiting the arrival of led and oled.
paul’s last blog post..LG Unveils 52 Inch Multi Touch Display
portable heater says
December 2, 2008 at 2:35 amWhat if we don’t drop off our newspaper and plastics? A great many cities offer a recycle pickup in addition to trash pickup. Is it safe to place these types of things with those as well, or should we try to find another way to dispose of them?
Green Talk says
December 10, 2008 at 2:30 pmPortable, to the best of my knowledge, you can’t put them with your recycling. I wish. However, many counties have drop offs for you to recycle them. In addition, since I wrote the post Home Depot is taking them for free. See my story on home depot http://www.green-talk.com/2008.....t-out-cfl/
electric space heater says
December 15, 2010 at 11:58 amI spent all day yesterday swapping out all my old light bulbs for the energy efficient bulbs – will be looking at my huge electric bill next month to see the difference
Michael G. says
May 15, 2016 at 2:05 pmThanks for the tips!. I often ignored some of the contents of the bulbs. I also impressed about the LED technology and actually it has many benefits. Thanks ANNA GREEN!
FRANK SMITH J says
January 1, 2017 at 3:25 pmThanks Anna! for taking some time and posting this informative and useful article. You are right using eco-friendly LED’s are having a long life and lack of mercury content and disposing of CFL bulbs should be done in a correct way.