Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs

It would be nice to see a BDC article explaining what the policy in Montana and Bozeman is for the disposal of used CFLs. There's nothing on the packaging of the bulbs NW Energy distributes free of charge annually to its customers. Since they contain mercury, they pose a toxic health and environmental danger. In future, we may find that faulty disposal methods by ignorant or careless people will result in contamination similar to the "drugs in the water supplies" that have occurred in many cities across the USA. Why wait for the problem to happen before anything is proposed.
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tags: fluorescent, lightbulbs, environment, health, disposal + add tags
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posted on Thu, Feb 11, 2010 10:56 PM
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Call first byshane5 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
but I think either Ace Hardware of the Food Coop accepts CFLs and that they arrange for proper disposal once they have a big enough pile of them. That's all I remember from something I read a few years back. It may have changed since then.
Good point, cwrite. bygixa5 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
The EPA has a page on their website about where to recycle cf lightbulbs. It has a link to programs and/or regulations in the individual states.
http://www.epa.gov/cflrecycling/
Montana — http://www.epa.gov/cflrecycling/where/region8.htm#mt

Ever see the EPA's recommended procedure for the handling and disposing of a broken cf lightbulb? Good grief!
http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/en
RE: Good point, cwrite. bytiredofbeingjudged5 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse)
aw, crap. am i going to get cancer from not properly cleaning up that broken bulb 6 years ago?
RE: Good point, cwrite. bygixa5 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Right? A friend tipped me off to the EPA guidelines a couple of years ago, and that was the first thing I thought of, too.

That and imagining how many CFLs were just tossed in the trash by folks who have no idea about the disposal procedure and were then subsequently broken on the way to or at the landfill.
thanks bybozemantalker5 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Cwrite, though I try to stay in the know, I was one of the ignorant on this issue! Thank you for pointing it out and making me aware that I need to look into this.
Luckily none have burnt out yet so I haven't had to discard them.
BZN Home Depot bybozogirl5 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
The Home Depot in Bozeman has an area right by their customer service desk to drop off old CFL lights. They even have heavy bags you can take home to put them in.
RE: BZN Home Depot bygixa5 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Thanks for the info, bozogirl. I'll look for the CFL drop off next time I go to Home Depot.
Like many things... bySINBAD5 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
in the green movement there is a terminal short sightedness to the cures of their sick earth perceptions. So with lightbulbs we save a little electricity to reduce harmless CO2's at the expense of contaminating the water supply and poisoning fish.

Politics aside, we should be wise stewards of the earths resources is the right thing to do, but lets do it free from philosophical/religious agendas.
RE: Like many things... by6guns5 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse)
Sinbad why are you so cranky? If I were you I would use glow worms for light then you could see in the dark and when they stop glowing you can use them for fish bait. The perfect sustainable light bulb and if your lucky you get to eat fish or sushi for supper.