CFL Recovery Information

CFL Recovery Information ::Retailer take back service ::FAQ and disposal guideline
:: Current Roll-Outs

1. Introduction to CFLs
   
2. Mercury in CFLs
3. Mercury and lamp quality
   
4. Comparative mercury emissions
5. Personal Health
6. Disposal of CFLs
7. CFL Disposal - Minimum Requirements Booklet

Introduction to CFLs

During recent years Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) have been playing an intrinsic part of energy efficient campaigns worldwide. Their energy saving properties presents a simple, but effective measure against ever-increasing, global energy constraints, rising energy costs and concerns for climate change.

As the use of CFLs becomes increasingly wide-spread so also increases the murmurs and bad press relating to the mercury content and associated hazards.

The truth is that a small amount of mercury is sealed within a CFL. A CFL operated normally emits no mercury and hence presents no hazard. General consensus by manufacturers of CFLs is that even if broken, the very small amount of mercury contained in a single, modern CFL will not cause any personal harm. The cumulative impact of millions of CFLs does however become a more significant issue and could represent a potential risk to the environment. Yet, because of their energy efficiency, energy saving lamps have the greatest overall environmental life-cycle benefit, despite containing mercury.

Some of the key aspects relating to mercury and CFLs are covered in subsequent paragraphs, but more detail can be found under FAQs or by accessing any of the links provided

Mercury is an essential element in CFLs and fluorescent lights which contributes to the efficiency of their operation. The mercury content of a CFL is typically about five milligrams, roughly the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen. For a basis of comparison, this is about one-fifth of the mercury found in a watch battery (25 milligrams), and at least 100 times less than the mercury present in standard household thermometers (500 milligrams) and silver-coloured fillings used in teeth (500 milligrams).

Mercury and lamp

quality

Higher quality lamps (i.e higher quality of phoshor used in manufacture) requires less mercury for operation. Lamps with better hour ratings have to be replaced less often and as a result generate less waste.

When purchasing a CFL it is therefore recommended that you select the best quality lamp available/affordable including both specification and hour rating.

Look out for CFLs that are RoHs compliant as they meet the Restriction of Hazardous Substances(RoHS) directive issued by European Union (EU) in effect since 2006. These lamps are verified to contain less than 5mg mercury per lamp.

The Efficient Lighting Initiative (ELI) ‘green leaf' label is another indicator of high-quality efficient lighting technologies that can be used in lamp selection. Only products that have met the energy performance specifications through the ELI voluntary quality certification and branding programme may carry this label.

Comparative mercury emissions

Globally, coal-fired power plants represent the primary source of mercury emissions into the atmosphere. Over its life time the potential CFL mercury impact (emissions and lamp content) can be up to 40% less than the mercury emissions associated with powering a comparable incandescent lightbulb over the same period. The net result of mercury released into our environment in the case of CFL breakage is therefore still less than if an incandescent lamp was used.

With a large component of the CFL's mercury contained within the lamp itself, proper disposal of spent lamps can further reduce releases of mercury into the environment. Hence the usage and responsible disposal of CFLs present an opportunity for further environmental benefits beyond those associated with the energy savings.

Page up

Personal Health

Compact fluorescent bulbs emit no mercury unless they are broken and hence an intact CFL poses absolutely no health risk.

In the case of breakage, the amount of mercury inside an individual lamp is too small to pose a hazard to users. Although the accidental breakage of a lamp is unlikely to cause any health problems, it is good practice to minimise any unnecessary exposure to mercury, as well as risk of cuts from glass fragments.

The following guidelines are therefore recommended in the case of accidental breakage of a CFL:

• Do not allow children or pregnant women to enter the affected area
• Open windows and allow air to circulate to the affected area
• Wear gloves, if available, as a precaution also against broken glass
• First sweep up all of the glass fragments and phosphor powder (do not vacuum)
• Place in a plastic bag
• Wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up stray shards of glass or fine particles
• Place the used towel in the plastic bag as well

Page up

Disposal of CFLs

Concerns regarding responsible disposal of CFLs are valid and lie in concentrations of mercury accumulating in our landfills over time. Expended CFL's should therefore be disposed of properly, in the same manner as other household hazardous waste products like paint, batteries and non-digital thermostats.

In the absence of legislative requirements specific to homeowners and with limited availability of suitable facilities, environmentally conscious consumers have few options. Eskom advises that homeowners take the precautions they would normally follow when disposing of household hazardous waste and make use of one of the following options (in order of preference) for CFL disposal that are available to South Africans at present:

• Deliver lamps to any of the retailers offering a take back service for CFLs
• Deliver used lamps to existing electronic waste (eWaste) disposal sites and services - visit the eWasa website www.e-waste.org.za
• Store CFLs in a safe place, in a non- breakable container or plastic bag to contain the bulb in the event of a breakage that might occur until infrastructure is in place for the safe disposal of CFLs in your area
• Some Municipalities provide an annual or periodic hazardous waste collection day or event. Typically, CFLs along with any other household hazardous waste such as batteries, oil-based paint or motor oil can be taken to these collection days. Check with your local authority whether these are available in your area.
• Dispose with your general waste as a last resort. Any of the options listed above are preferred but you can lawfully dispose of CFLs in your household waste. Should you revert to this option, it is recommended that you wrap the bulb in newspaper and place in a plastic bag to reduce the risk of bulb breakage, contamination of other potentially recyclable materials and to protect yourself and waste removal staff from cuts.

Page up