I have upgraded my lightbulbs to the earth friendly version, What happens when one breaks?
Answer:
You have to call Hazmat, or save them and never, ever throw them away.
On the package it tells you it cant go to a landfill.
The manufacture of those light bulbs cause far more pollution then using them saves. They are very bad for the environment.
The official answer from the EPA:
EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs, where available. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.lamprecycle.org and click on “State Lamp Recycling Regulations & Contacts” to identify local recycling options.
If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the CFL in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash. CFLs should not be disposed of in an incinerator.
Call Poison control center and they will direct you to hazardous waste disposal services. In short if you break one you have a major problem on your hands.
The amount of mercury is insignificant (less than 1/00 gram, even in worst case), especially compared with the amount released from burning coal in power plants. Much of the Hg is retained in the electrode amalgam, though older lamps (e.g. 40 watt tubular designs more than a few years old).
There is no special precaution for the user (other than avoid getting cut).
If you're environmentally conscious, recycle at your town's HM site and replace the lamp with another environmentally-friendly CFL.
Not a huge problem. The main things are: Don't vacuum it up, sweep it up. Don't cut yourself on the glass. Check this out for more details:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl...
Anyone who thinks this is a major problem must immediately remove any regular fluorescent bulbs from their house. They contain 2-10 times as much mercury, and are much easier to break. Funny how no one worried that much about those.
Using compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) actually reduces mercury pollution.
Fossil fuels contain mercury. Using incandescent bulbs causes more mercury to be emitted from power plants. More than the tiny amount (0.005 grams or less) that is in a CFL.
It's better if you dispose of old CFLs properly (many cities have recylcling programs for fluorescent bulbs) so that even the tiny amount of mercury is not released. But, no matter how they're disposed of, CFLs reduce mercury pollution.
http://www.cityofberkeley.info/sustainab...
Treat it like any other light bulb, we've been tossing florescent lights in the land fill for years, but recycling is always a better option if available in your area. The tiny amount of mercury in CFLs is insignificant. Mercury is a naturally occurring substance in soil and only a problem when large amounts enter water systems.
call al gore
You have to have (I kid you not) a Hazmat team decontaminate the area.
Welcome to the "Green" century.
you buy a new one
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