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Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs and
Their Disposal
One
relatively new and up and coming product is the Compact Fluorescent
Light (CFL) bulb. CFL bulbs are a type of light bulb that uses a
significantly less amount of energy and has a longer life-span than
traditional light bulbs. CFL’s generally have a minimum lifespan of
6,000 hours compared to the average 750 hour lifespan of traditional
light bulbs. Depending on the type of CFL bulb you purchase the price
ranges from $2-$15 but the EPA’s Energy Star Program estimates that at
least $30 per bulb will be saved in energy costs. This amount saved will
greatly offset the higher purchasing price of CFL’s compared to
traditional light bulbs. The following quote from the EPA’s Energy Star
program exemplifies the savings made by using this type of light bulb. “If
every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGYSTAR
qualified bulb, we would save
enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year,
more than $600 million in
annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases
equivalent to the emissions of more than
800,000 cars.” It is clear that the
savings from switching traditional light bulbs to CFL’s is great for
individual, national and global monetary, energy and environmental
savings.
Unfortunately,
even though CFL’s are so much more energy efficient then traditional
bulbs, there is a downside. The problem with CFL’s is that they each
contain a small amount of mercury. The mercury is actually what is
responsible for making the bulb so energy efficient. Even though the
amount of mercury is very small, it is still classified as a hazardous
waste and must be disposed of properly. This should not discourage
anyone from purchasing them! The benefits of their use are significant
and proper disposal is easy! There are two simply options for disposal:
You can take
them to the Minutemen Hazardous Products Facility starting Saturday,
April 24th for one Saturday per month. There is no charge for Waltham
residents at the facility as municipal taxes cover the cost. For a full
list of these dates as well as other items that should be taken to this
facility, please see our website at
http://www.city.waltham.ma.us/recycling /homerec.html.
If you
would like to take your hazardous waste products, like CFL’s, at other
times please contact the company directly at 1-800-541-8673 to make your
own arrangements.
A second
option is to take them to a local Home Depot store. Home
Depot has a recycling program in which you simply place all your CFL’s
or other fluorescent bulbs in a plastic bag, bring them to the store and
deposit the bag in one of their bright orange collection units they have
around the store. Home Depot then works with a company to safely manage,
package, transport and recycle the bulbs. If you are a Waltham resident
the closest Home Depot is located at 100 First Ave., Waltham MA,
02451.
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