AZEqualizer
11-06-2007, 10:10 AM
Florescent lamps and CFL's (compact fluorescent lamps) are a good idea but one of the things that bothers me is that hardly anyone mentions the fact that you MUST recycle these things when they burnout. Don't break them, don't just throw them away. Florescent lamps have mercury in them and a lot of ballasts still are made with Mercury. These lamps can be easily recycled and all the components reclaimed. As an example a large Florescent tube has enough Mercury in it to be considered a hazardous spill if broken.
So why isn't this a important thing to mention? And there should be recycle bins set up for peoples easy disposal of their unwanted or burned out Florescent lamps or people, being basically lazy, will just send them to the land fill.
While I'm at it ... I would hope that LED replacement lighting technology would be pushed as hard as Florescent lamps and CFL's.. They can ultimately be more effective (having almost no waste heat) and are more environmentally friendly as well as being recoverable with recycling.
So why isn't this a important thing to mention? And there should be recycle bins set up for peoples easy disposal of their unwanted or burned out Florescent lamps or people, being basically lazy, will just send them to the land fill.
While I'm at it ... I would hope that LED replacement lighting technology would be pushed as hard as Florescent lamps and CFL's.. They can ultimately be more effective (having almost no waste heat) and are more environmentally friendly as well as being recoverable with recycling.