CFL RECYCLING and MERCURY TIPS

RECYCLING

Q. Where do I recycle spent CFLs?

A. The proper way to dispose of CFLs is to recycle them along with other household hazardous waste items. Each district should have a public management facility for household waste and many have private facilities. You can also go to your local IKEA furniture store or Home Depot which also collect spent CFLs.

For local recycling information go to www.earth911.org.

Q. I am worried that people who purchase CFLs through the campaign won't go through the effort of recycling. How can I make it easier for them?

A. Some congregations and Jewish institutions have set up CFL recycle boxes in their lobbies so that people can drop off their CFLs in a convenient location. Then, every few months a volunteer brings the community's CFLs to the recycle center.

MERCURY

Q: What about the mercury contained in CFLs?

A: The greatest source of mercury in the environment comes from coal-fired power plants that provide the energy to light both types of bulbs. Because conventional bulbs use four times the amount of energy as CFLs, they are responsible for an equivalent higher demand for energy and consequent mercury emissions. In fact, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, over five years, conventional bulb use yields 10 mg of mercury, as opposed to 6.4 mg produced through the use of a CFL bulb (4 mg in the bulb and 2.4 mg at the power plant; EPA, 2002). When properly disposed, the mercury in CFL bulbs can be contained, unlike mercury released in power plant emissions.

The CLFs purchased through the campaign are low-mercury bulbs.

This is not to say that we should not address the presence of mercury in CFLs and issues of proper disposal, but that even considering its mercury content, CFLs remain a much cleaner alternative that conventional bulbs. If the bulb is disposed of properly, mercury is never released into the environment unless the bulb breaks.

Data from US EPA (2002); Chart taken from the website of the National Electrical Manufacturers Organization (www.nema.org).

Q.What do I do if a CFL breaks?

A. If it breaks in your home or synagogue, ventilate the room and sweep the fragments into the garbage (do not vacuum the remains or touch the glass).