By: John Keitel
The incandescent light bulb has been outlawed by the U.S. Congress. They mandate the use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). This follows countries like Cuba where Fidel Castro ordered “youth brigades” into each home to change out the incandescent bulb to CFL’s. Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez also ordered all lights in the country to be changed to CFL’s.
Many U.S. States now have laws against the disposal of CFL in regular garbage pick up. This is because each CFL contains 5mg of mercury. Its takes 16,667 cubic meters of soil to safely recycle ONE CFL.
There are various methods of clean up recommended with costs ranging up to $2,000 if a professional agency (overkill) is used. Many trash collectors have a hazardous waste collection, but not at the curbside, they are afraid their personnel will be exposed to the mercury. Instead the hazardous waste of the CFL must be taken to a hazardous waste disposal site. Some are free so far, but many miles from the poor souls homes.
Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection Agency recommends the following clean up of a broken CFL:
“Don’t vacuum bulb debris because a standard vacuum will spread mercury-containing dust throughout the area and contaminate the vacuum. Ventilate the area and reduce the temperature. Wear protective equipment like goggles, coveralls and a dust mask.”
“Collect the waste material into an airtight container. Pat the area with the sticky side of tape. Wipe with a damp cloth. Finally, check with local authorities to see where hazardous waste may be properly disposed.”
It is worth mentioning that mercury in tuna was a crisis. Now, in the name of environmentalism, CFL’s are mandated in many countries.
This is because coal burning electricity plants emit more mercury into the air powering incandescent bulbs. However, what happens when the technology of “clean burning” coal plants are used? Wind? Nuclear? Any zero emission energy? Then the CFL’s will be banned and we will have to buy something else.
How long will it take before someone sues the light bulb companies for exposure to mercury. Maybe then the laws mandating the use mercury in CFL’s will be outlawed. Since most of these bulb are produced in China and India I am not sure, given the recent lead paint in toys from China, that those regulation, if they were to happen, would be followed.
Filed under: Global Warming, News and Views, Video Tagged: | bulbs, burning, cfl. cfl's, clean, coal, compact, disposal, environment, environmental, environmentalist, epa, fluorescent, global, green, hazardous, hoax, incandescent, light, mandate, mercury, protection agency, recycle, regulation, Video, warming, waste
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I’ve written a published paper on the positives of the converting to CFL usage and why these devices need a national recycling law to prevent them from winding up in the landfill. The practice of keeping a mercury spill kit available will prevent incidents such as the Maine one from occuring. More can be found at http://www.eponline.com/articles/54456/
So what are the positives?
There is no man-made global warming it is a hoax designed to destroy capitalism and create big government. It has already started with the congress passing the CFL mandate.
How stupid, change to CFL’s to save greenhouse gases, but watch out for the hazardous waste. I thought the leftist hated mercury.
I do not care about creating another industry to offset the hazardous waste created by this socialist/marxist bill. How about all of the energy it takes another industry to clean up mandated hazardous waste.
If one of these breaks in my house I am supposed to drive it to the hazardous waste site, there is not any pick up of hazardous waste.
I guess we stop using our light bulbs and start charging our cars with electricity instead. Y’all are confused.
So we use more gas to drive to a hazardous waste site. And how many people are going too do this, ZERO. THEN THEY END UP IN THE CITY DUMP.
GIVE US BACK OUR LIBERTY!
There are other issues as well -
http://www.maccompanion.com/macc/archives/February2009/Greenware/UnintendedConsequences.htm
These lightbulbs contain mercury=not good.
These lightbulbs do not all last for as long as they advertise=not good.
Made in China=not good
99% of consumers will not locate hazardous waste disposal sites=not good for humanity
I’m thinking I’ll stick with my incandescent bulbs.
[...] the president will emulate the tactics of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, who ordered “youth brigades” into every home to literally bully reluctant homeowners into replacing their incandescents for [...]
What an excellent post. It has got me thinking, thank you.
Nice work on the blog. I definitely know how hard it can be to start to gain a following!
The issues we are facing just seem to get worse and worse and seems like people care less and less. Anyway to 2010 being a greener year!
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