Tips For Recycling Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs 

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, or popularly referred to as CFL’s, are a type of fluorescent lamp.  Most CFL types were produced to replace incandescent lamps, and these are noted to have efficient life spans, and also feature a considerably reduced light output.   

What’s The Average Lifespan of a Typical CFL Lamp?

According to lighting experts, the average lifespan of a CFL unit is from 8 to 15 times that of an incandescent lamp. Incandescent lighting units generally have life spans of around 750 to 1,000 hours. CFL units however, use less power and have longer shelf lives. While CFL’s have a quite higher purchase price, it can save as much as 30 dollars in electricity costs over the lighting unit’s life span.   

Environmental Issues Regarding The Use Of CFLs

While compact fluorescent lamps have longer life spans, and save you money on electricity bills, these products contain mercury, which makes their disposal a quite complex one. CFL’s, and other fluorescent lamps generally have small amounts of mercury inside them that are used as vapor inside the glass tubing. 

A typical CFL unit will contain as much as 3 to 5 mg of mercury, while some contain 1 mg or less. Since mercury is a highly-toxic material, its disposal in landfills or incinerators poses a major health safety issue, because burning or burying them in the ground can contribute to air and water pollution. This has prompted the National Electrical Manufacturers Association in the US to voluntary cap the amount of mercury placed in each CFL unit. 

The European Union has also required lighting manufacturers to cap their CFL mercury content too.  The US Environmental Protection Agency also estimates that if all CFL’s produced in the US were dumped in landfills, this would amount to 0.13 metric tons, or 0.1% of all mercury emissions in the US.  
     
How To Properly Dispose And Recycle CFL’s  

Here are some tips and precautions for the handling, disposal or recycling or compact fluorescent lamps.
 
• Find out if your town or city has drop-off points or centers where mercury-containing items are accepted. Because different states have different regulations regarding the handling or disposal of materials containing toxic ingredients, check on your state or city’s recycling regulations first. 

• Place a CFL bulb in two plastic bulbs. Most US states require that you place a CFL bulb in two plastic bags, so that it’s mercury content won’t seep out if the bulb gets broken.   

• Find out if there’s a retailer in your town or city who accepts the trade-in of old CFL bulbs. Some retailers like Ikea, have major recycling programs for CFL’s, however they may levy a small fee for disposal. Also determine whether your state allows the disposal of CFL bulbs in your weekly trash. Also dispose broken CFL bulbs by scooping the fragments or powder using a stiff cardboard, and also place the materials in a sealed plastic bag, and stuff this into another bag as well.