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Where to dispose of your old CFL lightbulbs
Did you know that CFL's (compact fluorescent lamps) contain mercury? Don't worry if you don't...you're not alone. It wasn't until we researched them for an article that we began to see the dark side of CFL's. However, they use around 1/3 of the energy of traditional incandescent globes and last around x 10 as long. So they're a good thing for our environment - as long as we dispose of them correctly. WHY CAN'T I PUT THEM IN MY BIN? Most rubbish is sent off to landfill. Often, the materials in that landfill absorb into the ground and eventually into our water supply. That means that if we put toxic materials into our rubbish bins, then it can cause devastating effects to our environment, its plants and animals....and us! The new energy saving lightbulbs contain mercury which is one of the most toxic substances known to man! SO WHERE DO I PUT THEM? Look for our CFL bins in stores!  1. For those who live in the Hills District of NSW, Australia, Planet Patrol and i-fink have set-up three locations where you can take your CFL's which are no longer working. We will then pick them up and arrange for them to have the mercury safely removed and other parts of the CFL are all recycled. These locations are: * Hills Shire Council, foyer - Showground Road. * Fuller Figure with Style - upper level, Castle Mall * News Express - Castle Towers 2. NSW residents can contact 'Cleanout' which is a NSW gov't agency. The Cleanout website provides a list of dates and locations where you can take your spent or broken CFL's for safe disposal. You can also use this opportunity to dispose of other toxic household waste such as paint, cleaning fluids and waste oil. Click here to go to the Cleanout website: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/households/CleanoutGuide.htm/  The Hills Shire Council 'waste services' webpage is also a mine of information. Click here to go to the Cleanout website: http://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/Waste-Services.html/ 3. Other Australians: Get in contact with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in your area - click here: http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/lamp-mercury.html/ 4. United States Try either: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/lamps/index.htm OR http://earth911.com/ 5. United Kingdom Try either: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/household/products/cfl.htm/ OR find your local council at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm/ 6. Europe: Try these or contact your local council or government: http://hubpages.com/hub/5-Ways-to-Recycle-a-Compact-Flourescent-Lamp-CFL/ DON'T FORGET YOUR LOCAL IKEA STORE! |