 The Mercury Problem
Mercury is poisonous, but it's also a necessary part of most compact
fluorescent bulbs.
An estimated 150 million CFLs sold in the United States in 2006 and
with Wal-Mart alone hoping to sell 100 million in 2007, and most are ending up in garbage dumps.
Mercury is probably best-known for its effects on the nervous system.
Mercury can also damage the kidneys and liver, and in sufficient quantities
can cause death.
Only two percent of CFLs are recycled in the U.S. Most of the 98 percent of CFLs that are discarded gets smashed en route to landfills and incinerators in packer trucks, releasing mercury vapors that are inhaled by trash collectors and escape into the air to settle out and be washed into our streams and rivers. The residue in landfills forms methyl mercury gas, which is especially toxic.
>> Listen to Dr. Wilkes talk about the hazards of fluorescent bulbs and why the public hasn't been informed.
 The Issue for Local Government
Global phenomenon: The movement to phase out energy-hogging incandescent lamps has swept the globe with amazing speed. Late in 2006 Wal-Mart announced they planned to sell 100 million compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in the U.S. in 2007-- which will by itself double the market. In January 2007 state legislators in California and New Jersey introduced bills. Australia became the first country to ban incandescents in February, followed by the European Union in March, and Canada in April.
Local government response: Local governments enthusiastically support phasing out energy-hogging lights. But we do not want to see a new problem created in its place. CFLs contain toxic mercury (see below) and few are recycled. Initial proposals to ban or phase out incandescents ignored the mercury disposal problem or assumed that local government and taxpayers will be happy to clean up the mercury-containing products. But local governments have neither the capacity nor resources to manage this waste stream. Current recovery rates are two percent for CFLs in the U.S.(for all fluorescents, including commercial tubes, it is only 25 percent). Local governments are saying: “Great idea to switch -- producer responsibility for financing and managing hazardous lamp recycling is the logical next step.”
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