Why is there Mercury in my CFL?

Feb. 15, 2008 |

I just had my first bulb CFL burn out, which I am rather upset about. It's only lasted a year - although my husband leaves the bathroom light on all the time...that doesn't help. And this is an anomaly for me - I have other CFLs that are 3 years old and still going strong.

At any rate, I'm saving the receipts and boxes of the new CFLs I buy so I can return them if they don't last as long as they're supposed to. Now I have to find out where to recycle my bulb in St. Paul, which has a small amount of mercury in it. By the way, why is there mercury in a CFL? I'm glad you asked - check out this video:

http://wcco.com/video/?id=38401@wcco.dayport.com

"The mercury is critical to the operation of a compact fluorescent bulb. It exists in powder form, inside the glass twists of a CFL bulb. When plugged in, the electricity excites the mercury producing ultraviolet energy. Without that process there would be no glow and no light."

Eco-Tech

Comments

February 18, 2008 - 12:44pm — Mary

Recycling CFL Bulbs

I have brought my CFL bulbs to the hazardous waste disposal unit at our local dump. I tend to collect all our used batteries (which are also collected for recycling/disposal at our city hall) and bulbs, etc. and make a run there once every 6 months or so. It's free, fairly quick and easy to do. Another option is to ask local fire/city halls that may have battery recycling programs to add in bulbs to their collection bins.

Naturalpath