Toledo Talk "Monroe County fluorescent waste disposal day" id 4829

Monroe County has a hazardous waste disposal day set for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday [Sep 29] at the Kroger store at 3642 W. Sterns Ave. in Lambertville.

It’s a good opportunity to get rid of various household hazardous wastes, including some you might not think of as hazardous – fluorescent bulbs. Both compact fluorescent bulbs commonly used in lamps and tube-shaped bulbs commonly found in shoplights contain small amounts of hazardous mercury. Those are accepted at hazardous waste days.

The federal government advises consumers to dispose of fluorescent bulbs that way or by putting them in plastic bags and throwing them out with household trash. But Michigan is among the states that has a law against disposing of fluorescent bulbs in landfills.

It is unlawful for anyone to dispose of fluorescent bulbs as universal waste in the states of California, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

In our home, we have at least 15 of those little fluorescent lamp bulbs installed that are suppose to last 5 to 7 years. I installed them last year, but not for reducing energy costs or for helping the environment. I like the light given off by those bulbs, and I like the idea of not changing light bulbs for 5 to 7 years. Although one did fail earlier this year after only being in use for 6 to 8 months. I disposed of it by ...

Lamp recycling is easy with our recycling kits. Our kit comes with everything you need to properly recycle your fluorescent bulbs and is a perfect size for home use. You simply place your spent bubs in the provided disposal bags, store them in the pail provided until it is full, apply the prepaid shipping label and call to have Fed-Ex come pick it up. It’s that easy! You even get a certificate mailed back to you as proof your bulbs were properly disposed of.

Hey, a certificate. Gotta like that. I'll set it right next to that piece of paper saying a star is named after me.

Compared to incandescent lamps of the same luminous flux, CFLs use less energy and have a longer rated life. In the United States, a CFL can save over US$30 in electricity costs over the lamp’s lifetime compared to an incandescent lamp.

The actual environmental effect of CFLs is the subject of much debate. Apart from the gross electrical power saved during operation, it is questioned whether the amount of power and raw materials used in their manufacture compares well with incandescent lamps, and also whether the mercury used in CFLs is a significant environmental hazard.

CFLs, like all fluorescent lamps (e.g., long tubular lamps common in offices and kitchens), contain small amounts of mercury and it is a concern for landfills and waste incinerators where the mercury from lamps may be released and contribute to air and water pollution. [B]ecause household users have the option of disposing of these products in the same way they dispose of other solid waste, it is expected that most consumers dispose of old CFLs with their standard domestic waste.

10 years from now, environmentalists will want CFLs outlawed, soon after getting laws passed that ban incandescent bulbs. Let's see, years ago it was plastic grocery bags instead of paper sacks, but now we're suppose to use paper sacks again.

For reading or just illuminating a room, I prefer the light given off by those hazardous, little, fluorescent bulbs over the light from an incandescent. So I better enjoy them now because they'll be gone one day.

To recycle electric items (computers, TVs, stereos, small household appliances), paint, all types of batteries, fluorescent bulbs, chemicals, and other materials, call 419-213-2230 to make a drop-off appointment Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon at the Lucas County Solid Waste Management District (LCSWMD) facility.