CFL bulb recycling: Councilmembers suggest library dropoffs

| Environment | West Seattle news

They save a lot of power – but you can’t just toss ’em. So what if you could take CFL light bulbs to your nearest library for recycling? That’s the idea two city councilmembers are floating – read on:

Here’s the news release from the city:

As a means of reducing uncontained Compact Fluorescent Light
(CFL) bulbs in our landfills, City Councilmembers Bruce Harrell and Nick
Licata are exploring the possibility of placing environmentally safe
drop boxes at all 27 Seattle Public Library locations to make it more
convenient for citizens to dispose of their CFLs. The boxes would have a
special liner that would prevent mercury leakage.

Councilmember Harrell says, “My goal is to take advantage of the fact
that most citizens know the location of their neighborhood public
library, which would not only make the disposal of CFLs easier for our
citizens, but also help the City forego the expense of purchasing new
disposal sites.” Citizens can currently dispose used CFLs at certain
retailers, City Light service locations and City or County transfer
stations that accept hazardous waste.

Since 2006, more than 300 million Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs
have been purchased in our country. In addition, Seattle City Light
recently announced that its “Twist and Save” program has garnered
sales of over 1 million CFLs locally. The number of people using CFLs
will continue to rise as the U.S. Congress passed the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), which lays out performance
thresholds that incandescent bulbs simply do not meet. As Federal
regulations are imposed, the use of CFLs will continue to increase, and
we will soon be faced with a new problem-proper disposal. CFL bulbs
contain a small amount of mercury that prohibits tossing them into the
trash. Throwing them away in an uncontained manner creates a situation
where the mercury seeps into the soil and eventually into the
groundwater. “I want to be proactive,” states Councilmember
Harrell.

In 2012, when the first wave of banning inefficient incandescent bulbs
takes place, proper disposal will become even more important.
Councilmember Licata adds, “I have heard from many citizens who simply
do not know where to dispose of CFLs properly. This will provide
convenient locations for them to do just that.”

If you want to let councilmembers what you think about the idea, their contact info is all here.

Krystal March 9, 2009 (2:51 pm)

Love this idea. I believe there is a fair amount of mercury in these types of light bulbs, and although I use them, I am worried about what happens when they are thrown out. Although there is conflicting evidence on what illnesses mercury can/cannot cause, I think we can agree that it should be handled with care and kept out of our ecosystem as much as possible!

CrazyDogLady March 9, 2009 (2:59 pm)

I hope people are all educated that you’re not supposed to throw these out. I didn’t know that until after I’d thrown out several. : /

FWIW, there is a bin in IKEA’s lighting department where you can drop off these light bulbs and also spent batteries.

Vickie March 9, 2009 (3:02 pm)

Sounds like a great idea!

J March 9, 2009 (3:16 pm)

It sounds reasonable enough–but the CC should keep in mind that if it requires any work at all from librarians, that should be reflected in the library budget. I’m a little nervous about having our librarians taking on extra, non-library tasks. It could creep.

Nulu March 9, 2009 (3:21 pm)

Great Idea.
The city’s various waste cites (dumps) should also have these drop boxes available at least during dump hours. Last month during a trip to the dump, I was told to return on one of the days that the hazardous waste station is open, hardly worth another trip for two CFLs.
And how about the retailers of CFLs also provide environmentally safe drop boxes at all locations of sales.
I have sought out disposal at many hardware stores in frustration.

Michelle March 9, 2009 (3:38 pm)

The Home Depot on Delridge has a drop box for CFL’s right next to the returns desk. They also have a drop box for batteries there.

mike March 9, 2009 (3:43 pm)

More and more I sort of think using CFL’s in house lighting is stupid. I wish time would hurry up so we could get to cheap LED lights

GenHillOne March 9, 2009 (3:44 pm)

And tubes too?

JoB March 9, 2009 (4:03 pm)

i would love cheap LED lights…

i would probably replace a couple of my CFLs with expensive LED bulbs if i knew where to find them.

Iggy March 9, 2009 (4:46 pm)

I feel sorry for the librarians. The libraries are already so cramped and crowded and trying to provide library services with reduced budgets. Seems like barrels of toxic waste will be just one more distraction for them and for patrons to trip over.

JumboJim March 9, 2009 (4:47 pm)

Junction T.V. recycles fluorescent bulbs for .75 cents. Not sure if they do compact fluorescents though…

The Velvet Bulldog March 9, 2009 (5:17 pm)

Michelle-thanks for the info re: the Home Depot dropoff. They should sponsor the WSB and advertise that point. :-)

Light Nulu March 9, 2009 (5:21 pm)

COSTCO has two cheap LED lights from Lights of America, a producer of cheap CFLs.

datamuse March 9, 2009 (5:54 pm)

Speaking AS a librarian, though not one who works for SPL, I’d really like to know why the council thinks libraries are a good place for this. Wouldn’t neighborhood service centers make more sense?

bolo March 9, 2009 (8:53 pm)

Bartells Drugstores have dropboxes for CFLs (and also for batteries).

environmentalist March 10, 2009 (6:52 pm)

Gotta say the libraries have enough to deal with already with too little staff and too much work. Said as a librarian who DOES work for SPL.

Halogenica March 22, 2009 (10:48 am)

Quote from the article: “The boxes would have a special liner that would prevent mercury leakage.”

My question: But how do you get the bulb in there if it’s designed to not leak mercury vapor?

Quote from comment by Michelle: “The Home Depot on Delridge has a drop box for CFL’s right next to the returns desk.”

My comment: I sure hope they don’t break when you drop them as mercury vaporises at room temperature! Ask them next time, will you? If they say yes, hold your breath, get out of there and call a hazmat crew!

Sorry, comment time is over.