State: TN
Country: USA
Member since: Mar 17, 2008
Last logged in: Jul 06, 2008
Hi my name is Sonya. I have a wonderful husband who works his butt off so I can stay home with the kids Bryan 15, nt and Seoc 3, special needs. Seoc has numerous diagnosis but Autism is the one we struggle with daily. He has the biggest smile and best laugh I have ever heard. He is high functioning and has hyperlexia. He keeps life very interesting to say the least.
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frogfoot1969's Compositions
by frogfoot1969 on 05.13.08 - public - 87 visits
Did you know you are suppose to recycle fluorescent lamps/bulbs because they contain mercury? What is disturbing to me is that most people do not know that these new compact fluorescent bulbs need to be recycled and just throw them into the trash to contaminate our environment.
I don't understand how the EPA can ban mercury thermometers but allow people to fill their homes with mercury containing light bulbs. What if they break, how are you suppose to clean them up?
I am all for saving energy and I think the concept is great But they need to make the public aware. It is on the back of the package in small print but how many people actually read their lightbulb package? Not many because I did my own poll at the store in the light bulb isle. I believe it should be on the front of the package in BIG BOLD letters.
To find out how to recycle you bulbs visit
www.sylvania.com/Recycle
www.lamprecycle.org
You can also call
1-800-lightbulb
1-866-666-6850
Comments(10)
slhh130
Posted on Wed, 14 May 2008
Really. I knew in college that mercury was dangerous but then again I was in biology and chemistry and environmental sciences. My stupid lab partner broke the mercury out of one of the thermometer's and might have exposed himself. I wonder how he and/or his offspring is doing today.
mercurymom
Posted on Wed, 14 May 2008
Trust me..the average Joe or Jane will never recycle them and most just don't care about the mercury. Every store that sells them is to have a center set up for recycling. People laugh at them here...and consider anyone worried about mercury a nut case. If broken it's toxic waste..yet people just sweep or vacuum then and shrug it off. These things make me sick. Yes it's a trade off with the amount of coal burned but not the way to go. There is a mercury free version..but the bulbs are about 22.50 each..sigh..I for now..and stocking up the old kind....and candles...lead free wick candles...
frogfoot1969
Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008
I also wonder if children who have issues with the flicker from traditional fluorescent bulbs have the same problem with CFLs. I am not advocating people not use them because they do save on energy. I am advocating better awareness to dispose of them properly as to limit the amount of mercury in our environment and to use them in places that are less likely to get broken. I would think with technology today they could come up with a better option.
LivsDad
Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008
Yeah, lamps I use incondescent. Ceiling lights I use CFL's. And, I have done a lot of research on it. The mercury is very hyped up on the internet & media. Don't get me wrong I am a proponent of ALWAYS being safe & mercury free. I just recycle mine after they are spent. And, honestly I have had mine for 5+years & only one went bad. I have never broken one but, I am careful with them. And, technically if you burn 1 incadescent lamp for a year you are inhaling via the fossil fuels equiv of mercury in powering it, than IF your break your CFL... Just a bit of stupid stupid trivia I just read & eager to apply
tabaithasteward
Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008
Here in Maine they had it on the news. And its not easy to clean up if they break.We are going to take ours out. So much to saving money.....
slhh130
Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008
I got an email not too long ago on this subject. If broken, it can emit mercury vapors in your home. My son has broken many bulbs at our house. Thank God they were incandescent! You can goggle the subject and get a lot of info as well.
EmilyL
Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008
I did know this. Old CFB's are considered toxic waste. Thank you for posting this. So many people don't know.
AWETISM
Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008
Wow! I have never read my light bulb pack. I just put 3 new bulbs in my kitchen today. I had none in at all but I will rebember this for next time. Are we safe from anything?
carmel66
Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008
Thanks for posting this. I've been amazed by this as well - bad amazed. We are looking into moving toward LED lights in some of our home lights and going back to regular bulbs in lamps that can be knocked over by our kids (or me!).
