How to recycle compact fluorescent bulbs

The complete article is here with tips on what to do when it’s time to toss them.

The trace of mercury in CFLs carries some environmental concern. Green is good. Buy CFLs to replace your traditional incandescent bulbs. The Washington-based Earth Policy Institute estimates that a complete switch to CFLs in the U.S. could eliminate 80 coal-fired generating plants. A worldwide shift would expand that number to 270.

But here's the problem: CFLs -- like all fluorescent lamps -- contain a small amount of mercury, a persistent poison that can be water- or airborne and cause nerve damage. It is indeed a small amount -- 5 milligrams -- about one-hundredth of that contained in an amalgam dental filling. But multiplied by the numbers out there, it's significant.

Recycling programs include these three choices:

1. Ikea stores.

2. Municipal and special recycling centers. Local waste-management authorities, public and private, have set up varying capacities and programs to take back CFLs. The trick is finding them. Fortunately, a recycling portal known as Earth 911 does a decent job of identifying local facilities. You can enter "fluorescent bulbs" and tell it how far you're willing to drive.

3. Hang on to them. You probably won't have a lot of spent bulbs, at least in the near future. Some environmental advocates advise simply storing old bulbs until recycling becomes more widespread.

And one more IMPORTANT point: If you break a CFL bulb, experts advise not to vacuum the remains -- that will put mercury vapor into small spaces in your home. Use sticky tape or some other mechanical means to get rid of the pieces.

And if you do end up putting your CFL bulb -- broken or intact -- in the trash, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends double-bagging it in two small plastic bags.

Meanwhile, it's worth 15 minutes to check your local recycling options. If you have 15 more minutes, let your local retailers know how you feel about the lack of recycling for these smart green products. It can't hurt.

Sadly, in Las Vegas, NV, we seem to have no options for recycling CFL bulbs according to Earth911.

I would think Lowe's does though. Guess I'll call to find out.

5 Ways to Recycle a CFL

Lighter Footstep has some great suggestions on recycling CFL's. I didn't know that there was MERCURY in Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb (CFL's). That fact makes it very important to dispose of them correctly. Read on:

If you're the sort of person who reads articles like this, you probably think pretty much everyone knows about CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs) by now.

Think again. Despite widespread availability and dramatically lower prices -- name brand CFL bulbs go for about two dollars these days -- CFL adoption in the United States remains around 6 percent. The rate is much higher in Europe and parts of Asia. Still, in the largest single consumer market in the world, CFL awareness remains in single digits. Contrast this with a recent survey suggesting up to 34 percent of all Americans believe in UFOs.

Mercury in CFLs It's not unreasonable to think that even fewer people know CFLs contain mercury. A small amount, sure: the National Electrical Manufacturers Association recently capped 25 watt CFLs at 5 milligrams per bulb. But as adoption rates rise, so does the importance of sending CFLs to a recycler, rather than the landfill.

Herein lies the problem. While retailers such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot have exhibited environmental leadership by bringing CFLs to market, they've been far less forthcoming in taking them back. CFLs can last three to five years under normal use, which means the vast majority of bulbs ever sold are still in service.

By 2010, however, The U.S. could be looking at 80 to 100 million improperly disposed CFLs annually if people don't know any better and convenient recycling isn't available. That would represent an intolerable toxic burden to our current methods of waste disposal.

Read the rest about your CFL Recycling Options here -- 5 Ways to Recycle a CFL.

On the knitting front, I'm still working on Rowan's "Sage." I'm about 1/8 up the back section. And since I've frogged the socks, more progress has been made on Sage. I'm hoping to get it done for the 85* weather we're currently having.

In other news, I have started my annual 'pumpkin soup' recipe search. All pumpkin soups will be considered because I love me some pumpkin soup. I'll link to the more interesting sounding ones for you when I find them.

The only other note of mention is that Luna is still perfect!

Simply Recipes' "Pumpkin Soup with Smoked Paprika"

Men are like pumpkins. It seems like all the good ones are either taken or they've had everything scraped out of their heads with a spoon.

Pox On My Sock

The front (or back) of Rowan's "Sage" is done. WOOT!!!



This is an easy knit and it appears at this stage that it will be a tank that fits me. Rowan's 'Summer Tweed' is a somewhat bulky yarn. It might be too hot for full on summer wear but nice for those under 100* days. Like now.

Really thick yarn.


Now the socks. Damn, I'm having some continuing issues with these socks. Mostly because I'm new to socks I think. Cat Bordhi's "New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One" is NOT for a beginning sock knitter. At least not me. Its lack of detailed instructions is making me crazy at this point.

A Failed Heel Turn.


See these stitches? I'll be rippppppppping back yet AGAIN to give the heel another go.


knitting

Fortunately, Gail at Gail Knits has helped me keep going on these socks. But at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if she banned this sock in her store. She has unknit and puts the stitches back on the needle more than I have. I have had success in tinking back with other knits, such as my lace. But I'm not doing so well with the tinking back on this sock.

This sock is really trying my patience. I really want to learn Magic Loop Toe Up socks. But I'm not sure that Cat Bordhi's "Foxglove Master Pattern" is the right one for me to be using to learn with. Me thinks there is a pox on my socks at this point. Wish me luck.

On another note, I know that CFL's should be recycled because they contain mercury. And while CFL's are widely available, recycling them is minimally done at most places in America at this point.

Maybe HomeDepot or Wal-Mart will come up with a recycling spot in their stores as they sell so many of them. Wouldn't THAT be nice. Guess I'll write them a letter in that regard. Maybe you too?

Here's LighterFootStep's "5 Ways to Recycle a CFL."

Simply Recipes' "Chicken Bacon Roulades"

Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.
-Oliver Wendell Holmes