Stockton Record: One Dim Spot in Bright Idea
Filed under: Earth 911 - April 19, 2008
By Alex Breitler
Of all the no-brainer things you can do for the environment, changing a light bulb has to be the simplest.
Millions of fledgling conservationists have converted their old incandescent bulbs for the twisty, curvy kind—compact fluorescent lights, which last longer and use less energy.
But there’s a wart on these beauties: They contain small amounts of mercury, which means they can’t be tossed into your garbage or recycling bin when they burn out or break. They have to be taken to a hazardous waste facility or a recycler.
In a few years, when these bulbs start to fizzle throughout California, will we be willing to drive somewhere to drop them off? They are, after all, just light bulbs.
“The 37 million residents we have want to do the right thing, but it’s got to be free, local and convenient,” said Leonard Robinson, deputy director for the state Department of Toxic Substances Control.
State officials are working on recommendations for the labeling of old bulbs, as well as an Internet database that will allow people to type in their address and find nearby recyclers.
Experts said the environmental benefits of CFLs easily outweigh the mercury blemish. The bulbs on average contain five milligrams of the toxic metal, enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen.
In comparison, the old mercury thermometers that you stuck under your tongue contained about 500 milligrams.
“Today’s CFLs are much better than yesterday’s, and tomorrow’s will be much better than today’s,” said Nicole Tam, a spokeswoman for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The utility gave out one million CFLs in October.
That doesn’t mean the mercury isn’t a hazard in your home should the bulb break.
“I’m not going to say it’s safe to inhale or ingest mercury,” Robinson said. “The best risk is no risk at all.”
Mercury from large numbers of bulbs tossed into the trash could contaminate air and water as well. However, the Environmental Protection Agency notes that most of the mercury that humans release into the environment comes from coal-burning power plants. And using CFLs reduces our need for power.
Nan Ballot, a local Sierra Club leader, uses CFLs in her home and walks door to door distributing them to neighbors.
But she said there’s a “real question” about how the bulbs will be disposed.
“That’s something that’s going to have to be emphasized,” she said.
A Bright Idea
San Joaquin County residents can dispose of compact fluorescent light bulbs for free at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 7850 R.A. Bridgeford St., at Stockton Metropolitan Airport. The facility is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Also, bulbs are accepted at the county’s periodic electronic waste collection events. For details, visit www.begreensanjoaquin.org.
Here’s what to do if a CFL bulb breaks at home:
- Vent the room.
- Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard; place in a glass jar with a metal lid or a sealed plastic bag.
- Use sticky tape to pick up any remaining residue.
- For a hard surface, do not use a vacuum or broom. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels. Place the towels in the jar or bag.
- On carpet, you can vacuum the remaining residue, but put the vacuumed debris into a sealed plastic bag.
- Visit www.earth911.org for a list of locations where the broken bulb and debris can be taken.