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Mercury is toxic, however it is a critical part of most compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), the kind that environmentalists and some governments are pressing as a new way to cut energy consumption. Mercury is probably best known for its effects on the nervous system. It can also damage the kidneys and liver, and in sufficient quantities can cause death.
There were about 150 million CFLs sold in the United States in 2006 and, and Wal-Mart alone hoping to sell 100 million in 2007. Some scientists and environmentalists are concerned that the majority end up in landfills. U.S. regulators, manufacturers and environmentalists note that, due to CFLs require less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs, they reduce the total of mercury in the atmosphere by reducing carbon emissions, coal-fired power plants.
But some of the mercury emissions landfill – in the form of methyl mercury vapor – can enter the food chain more readily than inorganic elemental mercury released directly from a bulb broken, or even coal-power plants fired, according to the government scientist Steve Lindberg.
"Disposal of any contaminated Mercury materials in landfills is absolutely alarming to me, "said Lindberg, emeritus professor of the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The average mercury content in the CFL – now about 5 milligrams – would fit on the tip of a pen, according to the U.S. Protection Agency Environmental, and manufacturers have pledged to limit the amount in most CFLs to 5 mg or 6 mg per lamp. To prevent the mercury reaches the landfills, the EPA, CFL makers and various organizations advocate recycling. Besides commercial recyclers and some municipal services, waste collection, some retailers accept used CFLs.
IKEA, the Swedish furniture chain, has free drop out of programs in all its 234 stores, 29 of which are in the United States. Now advocacy groups are calling on Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other big chains to participate.
One problem with recycling is not cheap. The value of metal, glass and mercury not recovered from recycling to offset the cost of the process. Costs can range from 20 cents to 50 cents per bulb – not a paltry sum when some CFLs sell for less than $ 2 at Wal-Mart.
But compared with the cost of overall life cycle purchase and use of a bulb, recycling would be less than 1 percent. Another obstacle lies in the fragility of the bulbs and their mercury content.
The government U.S. has no single recycling plan in mind. Among the alternatives are special collections on the sidewalk by the municipalities, mail-back programs by manufacturers and leave the program in several places, including retail stores that sell compact fluorescent lamps, said.
Some methods lend themselves to certain areas geographical rather than others, due to differences in population density, transportation infrastructure and proximity to recycling sites.
State laws are also a factor. Federal regulations mandate recycling of fluorescent lighting, while exempting households and other small users. Some states, however, are strict. For example, California no longer allows anyone to throw CFLs in the trash, while Massachusetts requires manufacturers to implement programs recycling and meet certain goals.
As technology advances, however, mercury could become less of an issue, for at least with regard to light bulbs. Last month, General Electric Co. said it was working on doubling the energy efficiency of incandescent bulbs, and finally, the development of comparable versions with compact fluorescent lamps. These bulbs, which the company expects to begin marketing in 2010, cost less than fluorescents, but will not last long.
Meanwhile, some environmentally minded consumers in Dallas, Houston and Texas are adopting compact fluorescent lamps and doing everything possible to dispose of them responsibly.
About the Author:
Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at Precedent.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – CFL Light Bulbs In Texas – Not The Brightest Idea?
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