Those new "energy saving" bulbs

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The proper way to clean up CFL bulbs... Yeah right, I see people really doing this!



http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf​

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What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home? ​

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CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the light bulb by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If a CFL breaks in your home, follow the clean-up recommendations below. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly (see below). ​

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What should I do with a CFL when it burns out? ​

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EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.
If your state or local environmental regulatory agency permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. Never send a fluorescent light bulb or any other mercury-containing product to an incinerator.
If your ENERGY STAR qualified CFL product burns out before it should, look at the CFL base to find the manufacturer’s name. Visit the manufacturer’s web site to find the customer service contact information to inquire about a refund or replacement. Manufacturers producing ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are required to offer at least a two-year limited warranty (covering manufacturer defects) for CFLs used at home. In the future, save your receipts to document the date of purchase. ​

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How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb? ​

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Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines: ​

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1. Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room​

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[FONT=Arial,Arial]Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
• Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
• Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one. ​

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2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces​

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• Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass pieces and powder.
• Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
• Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces. ​

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3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug:​

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[FONT=Arial,Arial]Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
• If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
• Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag. ​

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4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.: ​

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[FONT=Arial,Arial]If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
• You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
• If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal. ​

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5. Disposal of Clean-up Materials​

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[FONT=Arial,Arial]Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
• Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
• Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center. ​

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6. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming​

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[FONT=Arial,Arial]The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
• Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed. ​

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What is mercury? ​

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Mercury is an element (Hg on the periodic table) found naturally in the environment. Mercury emissions in the air can come from both natural and man-made sources. Coal-fired power plants are the largest man-made source because mercury that naturally exists in coal is released into the air when coal is burned to make electricity. Coal-fired power generation accounts for roughly 40 percent of the mercury emissions in the U.S.
The use of CFLs reduces power demand, which helps reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
For more information on all sources of mercury, visit http://www.epa.gov/mercury ​

For more information about compact fluorescent bulbs, visit http://www.energystar.gov/cfls ​

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Perhaps you need better landfill controls. We use clear garbage bags, and they are inspected before deposited in the land fill. There is a separate steel bin for such things as florescent bulbs and the new light bulbs, and they go to recycle facilities. Ours are not free and open pits where people can throw any trashy bags. We are allowed one small plastic bag for personal items, but one couldn't fit any bulbs in it.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Yep, more government regulations.. sorry Jim, I am from WV.. and a conservative..
All we need to do is give the Gov. more control of our lives. <Sarcasm over>

If one breaks, in the garbage it goes.
I don't recycle... I don't worship Mother Earth.

 

I can imagine the scenerio...

First the due date comes when no more regular bulbs may be bought.

Suddenly the government will "discover" that the new bulbs contain mercury and that they are not being disposed of "responsibly".

A new system wil be devised whereby in order to buy a new bulb you must bring in the old bulb for proper disposal... or pay a "fee" for improper disposal of an "environmental hazard".

 

The issue is not just the environmental hazard when they are not taken care of. There is the energy involved in the manufacture and disposal or recycling. In the end these bulbs take more energy and cost than the old ones did.

 

The mercury thing is what bothers me the most about them.

You can't get mercury thermometers anymore, but they are trying to force us to use light bulbs containing it?

We are stocking up on the old-fashioned light bulbs, and candles.

 

I am stocking up on light bulbs as well. I was very disappointed in Bush for signing that law. This is just total over the top liberal nonsense, the mercury should be a much greater concern than the energy. Forget for a moment the potential health risk to families, what about when we start disposing of millions of these? Isn't that a greater risk for our environment?

 

It's not about the environment. It's about GE's conglomerate federal lobbying powers.

 

And they also took Mercurichrome off the market.

 

What is Mercurichrome?

 

LOL...aged? ME?

I was just going to tell Tim it was Bactine for big boys!!!

 

Mercurichrome

<sorry, oversized image, even though it was cute!! - LE>

link to image:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ective.jpg/431px-Merbromin-Anti-Infective.jpg

 

Did they really take that off the market? If that was bad for you, I am surprised I am still around. I used to get cuts and scrapes all the time, and that was the one of the main forms of doctoring I got, from mom.

 

My wife ran the vacuum when we had one break. I can't wait to tell her Tiny said she isn't cleaning right. I know she'll appreciate that... :thumbs:​

 

When she did that she spread the mercury in the air in your house. Every time that she has vacuumed there again she did the same thing.

The effects of mercury poisoning include damage to the brain, kidney, and lungs.

I value my familiy's health too much to take such a threat so lightly.

Being a contrarian on the Baptist Board may be really fun to you - but you want to seriously reconsider your position on this particular topic.

 

Is that the stuff that burned?!!! I seem to remember mom using something like that when I would get cut or scraped?

Man, I hated it!.. It burned!

I am probably repressing the old memories! LOL

 

TT--------when "yo Momma" put that junk on your injury------thats the point you passed out---------you can have no memory of such a tramatic moment when you pass out before she even touched you with that plastic stick!!!!!!:laugh::laugh:

Ya'll-----this is TT when his momma is reaching for that Methalolate

raying:raying:

 

Somehow I think that the government is overblowing the danger of mercury just as they do many things. On the local news they aired a story about a local thrift store that is worried about having to pull many items because of potential lead contamination to include many of the books and things that I enjoyed as a child. So far, it seems that the government is ready to stand by and enforce this ill conceived new law. How stupid can we get? Pretty soon we are going to be just like California and every chemical, every puff of smoke, etc. is going to be dangerous to our health and well being. We will be over regulated, over taxed, and sick and tired of big old Nanny telling us whats good for us. Look at how well California is doing and you will see where we all are headed if this continues. When will we wake up and say enough is enough? Unfortunately, when we do, I'm afraid that it will be too late