How Green are CFL light builds, really?

Question

CFL's are supposted to be green because they require less energy. Now, because the Edison Standard was a simple design (Glass, aluminum and wire) and was completely recylcable, I assume that the CFL's are much harder to make and can't be recycled.

So, how much pollution is created when a CFL light build is made? Surely there must be some chemical run off or Green house gasses made. How much polution are CFL's going to make, when they do eventually die, and go into landfills?

Answer 1

We have been using these globes for many years

Now we find they have mercury in them and need to be disposed differently than first thought.

They do last a long long time though,I doubt if they would go into landfill it would poison the soil.

They are very very green power some goverments are putting them in for free for pensioners

Answer 2

You hear alot about the mercury contained in CFL bulbs and it's true.  They do contain mercury and can't just be thrown out.

But they aren't the villans that some groups make them out to be.  The amount of mercury in a CFL bulb is less than the amount of mercury spewed into the air by a fossil fuel-burning energy plant making the extra electricity to power an incandescent bulb.  So even though the bulbs contain trace amounts of mercury, the you're still getting mercury out of the environment by using them.  

The average CFL contains about 5mg of mercury.  The mercury thermometers that many households still have?  500mg.  I don't hear any media uproar over those.  The mercury switches in furnace thermostats?  3 GRAMS!  Those are commonly tossed out in the trash and no one seems to care.  You'd have to throw out 600 CFLs to equal the mercury content of 1 thermostat or 100 to equal each thermometer that we've thrown out over the years.  

CFLs don't seem so dangerous any more, do they.

Answer 3

If you care enough to use these bulbs, then you will care enough to dispose of them properly when their life ends. Our community has a hazardous waste disposal once a year, and I save up and take my toxic materials there. There are also some year-round locations, but I don't want to waste gas driving there. Everything we use has pros and cons, but you need to weigh for yourself what will have the most impact.

Answer 4

I have used these bulbs for over 5 years now and have yet to have one burn out. One of these bulbs stays on 24 hours a day as a security light. Standard bulbs would have to be replaced at a rate of 6 to 8 per year, a 5 year average of 35

bulbs.

I can't give an answer regarding how green these bulbs are

when their life comes to an end, but not using as much electricity, not making the drive to buy replacement bulbs and even the fact that standard bulbs have to be delivered from

manufacturer to store at a rate of 7 to 1, should off set any

production and disposal pollution.

Just an opinion, I could be wrong.

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Answer 5

Yes, they do last long, and they do have mercury in them.  But if one breaks, the government is saying you have to call the EPA to come in and clean them up and that will cost you $2000.  And you don't want one to break especially if you have kids in the home.

Answer 6

it will make the air more cleaner

Answer 7

Well, there's the information that gets more attention and advertising -  they use up to 70-75% less energy and last up to ten times as long.  While there are exceptions (some are duds, same as normal incandescent bulbs), the numbers do hold reasonably true.  In that light, CFLs help reduce the pollution associated with energy production.

I think your real question pertains to physical waste and the mercury in them... CFLs contain about 5 mg of mercury per bulb, and mercury IS an environmental concern.  Many states and municipalities have recycling programs setup to address the proper disposal of CFLs.  In areas that do not, there are many websites out there that allow you to mail your discarded CFLs to their organization for proper disposal or recycling.  But that doesn't mean everyone will opt to do that or even care. The problems break down like this:

1) Most people will just throw used CFL bulbs in the trash, rather than recycle them.  

         Recycling CFL bulbs has not been made easy, and therefore the majority of people will just not recycle them.

2) The process of recycling isn't really sufficient (yet):

         From making recycling services and facilities available, to the actual recycling process (a whole other issue you can look up online).  That's why many states have made throwing CFL bulbs in the trash illegal... but how do you enforce something like that?. But on a good note, there's progress being made all the time and more and more companies taking ownership of the problem.

3) The bulbs break before they get to the landfill.

           They break in garbage containers and dumpsters, they break in the garbage trucks and/or at the landfill - exposing people and communities to potentially high levels of mercury when that happens.

So - back to your question - How "green" are CFL light bulbs?

Well, I still think very 'green' in concept.  People who buy them need to take responsibility for their actions, and there in lies the problem.  But here's why I still think they're a 'greener' option than the other bulbs out there (incandescent and halogen, etc).

1) Even though fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, using them contributes less mercury to the environment than using regular incandescent bulbs. That's because they use less electricity — and coal-fired power plants are the biggest source of mercury emissions in the air.

2) They do use less energy - so even if it's not a mercury issue, it's a cost of providing energy - whether it comes from oil/gas to produce the energy, or whatever the source.

3) As I said above, technology for recycling CFL bulbs is advancing and more companies are taking ownership of the issue... (now if only more people would too)...  But we'll get there - of that I am confident.

4) Having to use fewer bulbs (over time) contributes fewer non-biodegradable items to the landfills.

But you can do your part to help this issue evolve into something that is truely green...

You can urge stores that sell the bulbs to help recycle them, or companies who produce them.  You can educate people around you on HOW to properly recycle or start your own collection site.  Educate people on the dangers in the first place.  The list there really could be limitless at this point, but I hope this gives you a little more information on the topic - there's a LOT of information to be found online and it's constantly changing/evolving for the better...

I've included a good link below that can give you more info on recycling CFLs...

Good luck!