Light Bulb Recycling and Disposal
Imagine for a moment that it’s 1879. You take a few minutes to rest and read the newspaper. The room is dimly lit by a single candlestick or gas lantern. There is a story in the paper about a man named Thomas Edison who was working on a new invention called the light bulb. The idea seems far-fetched; lighting up a room at the flip of the switch! But soon these incandescent bulbs would be lighting up the world and changing lives.
Fast forward about 100 years and the environmental impacts of these incandescent light bulbs are finally coming to light. For more than 130 years people have used these low-efficient incandescent light bulbs. Traditional incandescent bulbs only use 10% of their energy for light while 90% of its electricity simply produced heat. This translates into high energy bills, and a wasteful use of earth’s natural resources. In 2007 these inefficient bulbs began being phased out and replaced with more efficient versions of the bulbs and compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs.
Disposal in Garbage
Recycle at Collection Center
Traditional Light Bulb Disposal
Because traditional incandescent bulbs do not contain hazardous materials, they are allowed to be placed in a landfill without the threat of exposing harmful substances. To dispose of these out of date bulbs, wrap the bulb in something like newspaper and put in your garbage container, not your recycling container.
CFL Light Bulb Recycling
CFL and florescent light bulbs should be handled differently. While CFL bulbs drastically reduce energy costs and last significantly longer than incandescent bulbs, they also contain a very small amount of mercury which means they should not end up in a landfill. While the bulbs are in-tact, the mercury is not considered harmful but once broken (by being thrown in a garbage can or tossed around a garbage truck) the mercury is released. Mercury is toxic and improperly disposed of it could make it’s way into the soil and water.
CFL bulbs are not included in curbside recycling programs. But, the good news is CFL bulbs are recyclable when properly handled. Recycling CFL bulbs through a Village sponsored Household Hazardous Waste Event or at a properly equipped facility like Home Depot or Batteries Plus Bulbs prevents the release of mercury into the environment. Left over mercury, glass and metals from the bulbs can be re-used and recycled.
Minor adjustments to this life-changing invention allows us to help reduce our carbon footprint for future generations. Making minor changes at home to the way we dispose of and recycle household material also ensures a healthier planet. Visit our Basic Recycling is Better Recycling page for more information about curbside recycling and how to dispose of hazardous material.
