They've Seen The Light

Two cheers for Congress.  In their omnibus spending bill, they slipped in a provision that no money will be given to enforce the 100-watt incandesecent light bulb ban that takes effect in 2012. But it's only for one year, and the ban is still in effect, anyway. (Mickey Kaus notes the Democrats are more than happy to have this issue go away until after the elections.) Next year, they should go whole hog and just get rid of the ban.

I have a CFL bulb in my place that I turn on when I enter (and whenever I'm carrying something heavy I curse as I wait for it to turn on).  I've got nothing against freely chosen CFLs, but it is scary to own a product that you don't know how to dispose of*.

I actually don't have many 100-watt bulbs at my place--I use mostly 75-watt.  They're set to be phased out by 2013, so I've still got plenty of time to stock up.


*I just checked and here's what you do:

What do I do with a CFL when it burns out? What is the proper disposal of a CFL bulb?

Follow these guidelines to dispose your CFL properly:

•Like paint, batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage if better disposal options exist. To find out what to do first check www.earth911.org (where you can find disposal options by using your zip code) or call 1-800-CLEAN-UP for local disposal options. Another option is to check directly with your local waste management agency for recycling options and disposal guidelines in your community. Additional information is available at www.lamprecycle.org. Finally, IKEA stores take back used CFLs, and other retailers are currently exploring take back programs.

•If your local waste management agency offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the CFL in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in the trash. If your waste agency incinerates its garbage, you should search a wider geographic area for proper disposal options. Never send a CFL or other mercury containing product to an incinerator.

What should I do if a CFL breaks?

Because there is such a small amount of mercury in CFLs, your greatest risk if a bulb breaks is getting cut from glass shards. Research indicates that there is no immediate health risk to you or your family should a bulb break and it's cleaned up properly. You can minimize any risks by following these proper clean-up and disposal guidelines:

•Sweep up—don't vacuum—all of the glass fragments and fine particles.

•Place broken pieces in a sealed plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up any stray shards of glass or fine particles. Put the used towel in the plastic bag as well.

•If weather permits, open windows to allow the room to ventilate.

Well, that clears it up.