The twisty light bulbs, as a matter of fact it is the one you see in the "tips" on the side when posting.?

Question

The twisty light bulbs....

1. What are they even called?

2. How should the properly be disposed of?

Answer 1

I am glad you asked this question, as I had no idea there was any danger involved in breaking them We just took delivery of 3 dozen of them from a government source which has been handing them out free of charge in Australia. I am obliged to Jim D for his timely warning & info.

Answer 2

The following are excerpts from two articles;  the full articles may be found at:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news...

The US EPA and some large businesses are aggressively promoting the sale of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs as a way to save energy and fight global warming.  But the bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin, and the companies and federal government haven't come up with effective ways to get Americans to recycle them.  This poses problems for consumers when breakage occurs and for disposal.

Breakage:

When a CFL breaks, the EPA cautions consumers to open a window and leave the room immediately for at least 15 minutes because of the mercury threat. The agency suggests removing all materials by scooping fragments and powder using cardboard or stiff paper. Sticky tape is suggested as a way to get smaller particles. The EPA says vacuum cleaners and bare hands should never be used in such cleanups.

After final cleanup with a damp paper towel, the agency warns consumers to place all materials in a plastic bag.  "Seal and dispose of properly," says the EPA. "Wash hands."

Disposal:

Disposing of CFLs properly might be a tough thing to do;  CFLs should never be thrown in the trash. They need to be turned into recycling centers, which are few and far between at this point.

With Wal-Mart alone projecting sales of 100 million in 2007, some scientists and environmentalists are worried far too many will wind up in garbage dumps.

Also, most people are in the dark about what will become mandatory, fine-imposed handling requirements for CFLs by homeowners and businesses.

EPA is actively engaged with trying to find a solution that works for these retailers around recycling the product.  "The only retailer that I know of that is recycling is IKEA, [says an EPA spokesperson]."

Answer 3

CFL's (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs) should be recycled. There are more places than Ikea that take burned out ones for recycling. I know my Ace Hardware takes them. I believe but am not 100% sure, that Menard's or Home Depot take them also. They should NOT go into the garbage. The mercury in CFL's is miniscule. But when you get millions thrown into landfills, THEN it becomes a huge problem. By recycling them it will alleviate the problem. It's actually getting people to do the work that's the problem. The easier you can make something, the more people will be apt to do it.  

Answer 4

I agree with Jim D - they are CFL bulbs, cost a little more than conventional bulbs but last a lot longer.  Since they do contain mercury you should be careful to dispose of them properly. Should you break one them be careful to remove the debris and not come in contact with the mercury.  Ask your mommy and daddy to take you to the store when they purchase a CFL bulb so that you can become more familiar with their handling.

Answer 5

Go to your local city/county website for recycling drop off points. Then you can bring them there and they will get recycled