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Light Bulb Recycling On The Rise

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: November 11, 2008

Updated:

NEW PORT RICHEY - The light bulb of inspiration is appearing over the heads of more and more Pasco residents who realize they can recycle burned-out compact fluorescent light bulbs and standard fluorescent bulbs.

The iconic bulb shape of incandescent lamps invented by Thomas Edison is giving way to the curly-cue shape of CFL bulbs. CFLs are much more efficient than standard light bulbs, which can waste as much as 95 percent of energy as heat.

But a conundrum confronted environmentally minded residents: CFL bulbs contain mercury, a toxic heavy metal that could pose a hazard to the environment if the burned-out bulb is carelessly tossed into the trash.

"We manage (CFL bulbs) just as we manage regular fluorescent light bulbs," Farouk M. El-Shamy explains as the environmental manager for Pasco County Utilities Services. "We accept them at our two Household Hazardous Waste Centers from households, free of charge."

The West Pasco facility for CFL bulbs from households only is at the Resource Recovery Facility on Hays Road. Businesses are regulated by law to recycle or dispose of the bulbs elsewhere.

"Over the years we have been recycling between 5,000 and 8,000 fluorescent light bulbs annually," El-Shamy reports.

The program began in 1995, so it was a simple step to expand the program to include CFL bulbs.

El-Shamy wrote about his own conservation efforts in a recent county newsletter.

"While in my kitchen waiting for my eggs to boil, I looked at the ceiling to find only two fluorescent light bulbs. I then decided to compare that to the incandescent light bulbs in the house, I counted 20 in total."

The average American home has 45 standard light bulbs, he pointed out.

"I know an average incandescent light bulb converts only 5 percent of electricity to light; the rest is wasted.

"It has been estimated that replacing a 75-watt incandescent light bulb with a 20-watt fluorescent light bulb can save us about $55 over the life of the bulb. In my case, assuming a light bulb lasts for 3 years, that is a saving of over $350 annually. Fluorescent light bulbs require less electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions (gas emission from fossil fueled power plants)."

Replacing just one light bulb with an Energy Star-rated bulb in every home could save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, statistics indicate.

"Fortunately the amount of mercury in fluorescent light bulbs has declined dramatically since the 90's," El-Shamy continued.

"In the last 10 years, the amount of mercury in average fluorescent light bulbs declined from 47 milligram to about 18 milligram per bulb.

CFL bulbs contain even less mercury, about 5 milligram per bulb, roughly equivalent to the tip of a ball-point pen," El-Shamy reports.

These bulbs are also designed to last six times longer than the traditional light bulbs.

They use 80 percent less energy and produce 75 percent less heat than incandescent light bulbs.

Nothing goes to waste from the CFL bulbs turned in by residents.

"Not only do we recycle the mercury but also we recycle the glass, the aluminum end caps and the phosphorus contents of these light bulbs, and that is a 100 percent recycling," El-Shamy said. "Bring your bulbs to one of our HHW, just try to prevent breakage."

"It is a lot cheaper to recycle, plus it is the right thing to do to protect our environment, don't you think so?" El-Shamy said.

For more information, contact El-Shamy by telephone at 727-847-8041 or via e-mail at felshamy@pascocountyfl.net.

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