23rdSeptember

Do you buy compact fluorescent (CF) or LED?

Today, I received an interesting question and I wanted to pass it along to my readers. Chris asked a question about which type of environmentally friendly light bulbs are people buying, and how are they disposing of them.

The basic argument is that CL light bulbs use less electricity, but contain harmful chemicals that MUST be properly disposed. Most people just throw away light bulbs after they burn out, but are you recycling them?

Chris told me he was using CL light bulbs and recently tried to recycle his dead CF bulb at a Lowes, but was not sure where to put them. With CF bulbs containing the harmful chemicals that they do, Chris put them in the battery recycling, but is he doing more harm then good?

It’s a very intersting argument, but I will be the first to point out that I would look at LED replacements. I find LED a bit more pricey, but the ability to last for “almost” ever. Since my move I have not had to replace any bulbs, but I plan to upgrade to LED bulbs and feel greener on the inside.

So what’s your take, do you just throw out light bulbs, do you buy CF?

Please comment below.



4 Comment(s)

antics says 23rd September @ 19:57

To clarify I gave my CF bulb to Lowes and as I was walking out I saw the girl toss it in the battery bin. It was then that I started thinking that most people probably just toss their CF bulbs in the trash. Some people just don’t know that CF bulbs are dangerous and others are just too lazy to care.

antics says 23rd September @ 21:31

From my brother Mike:

On CF lightbulbs: they are definitely good, even considering the drawbacks.
I read a great summary article recently which talks about this exact
question and it’s pretty unequivocal, although they certainly do require
special treatment in the trash.
They contain a trace amount of mercury, but it’s less than contained in a
watch battery (I believe about 4mg, the size of this period .). I believe
that most places that sell them also take them back to supposedly handle
properly (I know our local hardware store does) to recover the Hg.

antics says 25th September @ 10:28

speak of the [energy efficient] devil.
http://lighterfootstep.com/5-ways-to-recycle-a-cfl.html

Looks like Ikea is where I’ll be taking my blown CFL bulbs. Remember, don’t just throw them in the trash.

Cosmic Ray says 30th September @ 16:35

Check out http://www.lamprecycle.org/ for pointers on recycling in general. As usual, there is more information than most people can handle … all subject to “your milage may vary” wrinkles. (How many plastic recycling codes are there ! and which ones can I recycle in this town and the next ?)

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