Disposing of CFLs

I have light bulbs on the brain. I've been replacing all my bulbs. It's been a slow process because I'm so particular about what sort of wattage and tone I want in every single lamp or fixture. I'm proud to say my photography studio is fully run on a mixture of bright white and day light CLFs, though I'm still constantly tinkering with the color light that is created. Since these bulbs are becoming more common there are more options as far as type of light and even dimmer bulbs (see an earlier post for more info). It occurred to me that where I threw my old light bulbs in the trash that probably isn't what I'm supposed to do with a CLF. I have yet to have one die on me in two years so the issue had not come up! When that day comes, though, I want to follow through with the commitment I'm making to the planet and not just throw them in the trash. I found the following information on disposing of CFLs. I live close to numerous Home Depots so I will probably go there. You can learn more at the Home Depot Eco Options page, which is full of all sorts of useful information for a greener home and about their bulb recycling program.

"Public adoption of CFLs has been slowed by one widely-circulated story of how the Maine Department of Environmental Resources detected mercury contamination following a residential CFL breakage incident, and the homeowner was presented with a US$2,000 estimate from an environmental cleanup firm.

Although initially dismissed as an overreaction, subsequent scientific studies by the Maine DEP and also Brown University in 2008 have confirmed that - contrary to earlier belief - the amount of mercury released by a broken CFL bulb greatly exceeds EPA safety standards.

Spent lamps should be recycled to contain the small amount of mercury in each lamp, in preference to disposal in landfills. Only 3 percent of CFL bulbs are properly disposed of or recycled. In the European Union, CFLs are one of many products subject to the WEEE recycling scheme. The retail price includes an amount to pay for recycling, and manufacturers and importers have an obligation to collect and recycle CFLs. Safe disposal requires storing the bulbs unbroken until they can be processed. In the US, The Home Depot is the first retailer to make CFL recycling options widely available.

Special handling upon breakage is currently not printed on the packaging of household CFL bulbs in many countries. It is important to note that the amount of mercury released by one bulb can exceed U.S. federal guidelines for chronic exposure. Chronic however, implies that the exposure takes place over a long period of time. One time exposure to a trace amount of mercury is unlikely to be harmful. Conventional tubular fluorescent lamps have been used since 1938 with little concern about handling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that, in the absence of local guideline, fluorescent bulbs be double-bagged in plastic bags before disposal."

- Wikipedia