This is all new stuff, really. However, I do believe that within a certain period of years CFL's will be the only bulbs available. Between now and then, the issue of joe consumer disposing of them will be addressed. These bulbs have a very long lifespan ~ 5 - 9 years depending on the particular bulb and usage. So I am going to continue the change over. I am also going to check back on energystar.gov and check those links to see if there is a local recycler. I also have an IKEA here, so as Bets pointed out I can always go there.

I guess the greater problem is how we dispose of this stuff. Ikea ( I love that store!) is no where near me and the closest landfill that will take mercury related items is probably at least a hundred miles away.

I hate to be a skeptic, but I wonder what IKEA does with them? We need to know the end stuff. Like what really happens to the mercury.

I imagine many of our landfills nearer to us would like to take this stuff but they are licensed also and probably can't get okayed for these hazardous materials.

There are good sites online which explain the various types of mercury and what it does and if it is hazardous.

I'm old so I remember when this was an issue in the past relating to thermometers and fish, etc.

I know the stuff is here but I don't want to support these quick fixes or political stuff (like replacing light bulbs) till we know more.

I live in an area that grows a lot of corn. Guess what. If the farmers didn't sell to developers they figured wow, now I'll grow it for fuel (the corn). But.....that boosted the price to the consumer for the corn we like to eat and eventually may make it scarce.

Nothing is perfect I know, but lets all not buy into any quick fixes. We need substance.

Tootsie

I, personally, do not feel skeptical at all about what IKEA does with the bulbs. That company has a commitment to the environment. If anyone is doing the right thing, I would bet it is IKEA. When you shop there, they encourage you to buy reusable bags and charge per bag if you use the throw away plastic ones.

At Christmas, they sell Christmas trees. It's been years since I bought one there since I got a fake one, so I'm not sure I will remember the deal exactly, but they charge a flat rate for any tree. It's something like $20 and you get a certain amount back (I want to say $10) if you bring the tree back after Christmas and then they make sure it gets recycled (mulch, I think) and doesn't end up in a landfill.

I'm not worried about ikea either. If they are taking them, they are having them recycled.

Most counties/cities will have a local household hazardous waste collection site. You just need to contact them and you can drop them off there. Don't break them or crush them. They are sent to companies that crush them to remove the mercury which they then sell back to manufacturers for reuse in their products.

We are in a small town; the county is experiencing rapid growth and is over burdened. We do have a landfill that will take certain items, but you take them there. So far I haven't heard that they will take the mercury bulbs, but as you said it's new.

Our garbage collection is private, not included in taxes. They don't take many recycled things. Frustrating.

My frustration is what to do with the foam containers???

Our supermarket usually have a place for plastic bags.

One of the local supermarkets is no longer going to use the plastic bags but will use the paper. You are encouraged to use your own canvas bags or buy theirs. I note that the supermarket I shop in has that too. You can buy some fairly sturdy ones for around $.99. They also have a $4.00 or $5.00 variety.

Isn't it funny. When my grandmother was younger she used her own bag; and now all the years later we are going back.

Recycling will have to become 2nd nature to us or it's a real bother (yes, I think it's worth it).

I'm always 'repurposing things' so they don't end up in the trash.

Maybe we could start a thread??? Think I'll try it.:)

Tootsie

Not just for my 'gee whiz!'
 

:Scratch-Head:I meant this as a forum for you to add your own 'gee whiz' stuff folks...so go ahead!

Tootsie

Good point. I doubt, too, that anyone bothered ever to dispose of all those big tube flourescent light bulbs properly, either. and look how long they've been in use.

And how many of them are/were out there.

I wnder how much mercury is in one of those 8' bulbs - I have 4 of them in my kitchen.

:eek:

Imagine how many are in any given school or factory or store. Hmmm.

But then, who disposes of ANY hazardous waste correctly? Ever see your neighbors change their oil? You think they know where that's supposed to go? Not down the storm drain.

Old paint, anti freeze, asbestos brake pads... all in the local dump.

Boy, i'm a little ray of sunshine huh?

:p

You probably won't get the 'ray of sunshine' award. You are right though.

I too have seen how people get rid of their garbage (paint, oil, etc) and it is alarming.

There is the expression 'fouling one's own nest'. I guess it could apply to our human race.

Having said that it's also hard to figure out how to 'be' without leaving a trail of trash behind.

I do try hard to research and purchase things that are less onerous to our environment.

I suppose candles are pretty ideal for light, but none of us will want to go back to reading by candle light.

I started a 'repurposing' thread on here. It's for ideas about how to reuse things rather than toss them.

I also told my DH that he has to abide by the rules and cannot just pour his oil in the bushes:eek:. So now he behaves and takes it to recycling centers.

We just have to hope they don't pour it in their bushes.

Sigh....

Tootsie

I switched our light bulbs to the new ones a few months ago. I have noticed a small lowering of our light bill. Besides, in a few years, incandecent light bulbs will be phazed out.

To throw them away, any hardware store like Home Depot or Lowes will take them for disposial.

Earl

blame the fingers for the bad spelling.