Disposing of energy efficent light bulbs

Ice_baby · 21 March 2012 at 8:47PM

Hi
Does anybody know of any shop that will take worn out energy efficent bulbs for recycling? Or any other way of getting rid of the blasted things? I don't have a car and I live a long way from the nearest waste disposal centre.
I'm hoping there's a better answer than stuff it in the back of the closet and try and forget about it, I have enough clutter as it is.
Many thanks

Ice_baby · 21 March 2012 at 9:35PM

Thank you.
My google-fu let me down, I did try searching for help but all it directed me to were the big waste sites which are miles away. However your second link told me they'll take the light bulbs in my local Sainsburys. (I've never seen any sign of this but I will go and ask)
Thanks again

Baileys_Babe · 29 March 2012 at 6:19PM

Thanks seagull09, especially for the 2nd link, looks like all the Sainsburys & homebase in my region will take back the bulbs.

Owain_Moneysaver · 29 March 2012 at 6:25PM

Depends on your local authority, I just put mine in my recycling box and (at least recently) they've disappeared.

zeupater · 29 March 2012 at 8:17PM

Hi

Our council recycling includes a bag for CFLs and batteries so it would be worthwhile to check whether the same service is available in your area too ....

HTH
Z

KevinG · 30 March 2012 at 12:43PM

I wonder what proportion of people just dump used batteries and CFLs in the bin. I suspect it is rather large, well above half. Just how much damage is this doing?

Hezzawithkids · 30 March 2012 at 1:08PM

Our local Sainsburys has a recycling bin for low energy light bulbs (as well as batterries, clothing etc etc) so I just take mine there.

Throwing them out in normal rubbish is dangerous - if they break all kinds of noxious stuff can leak out, you wouldn't want to be anywhere near one at the time. :eek:

Ben84 · 30 March 2012 at 5:17PM

Hezzawithkids wrote: »

Our local Sainsburys has a recycling bin for low energy light bulbs (as well as batterries, clothing etc etc) so I just take mine there.

Throwing them out in normal rubbish is dangerous - if they break all kinds of noxious stuff can leak out, you wouldn't want to be anywhere near one at the time. :eek:

I wouldn't worry about it really, the amount of mercury they contain is tiny. Mercury however is very popular in many items in much greater amounts, for example thermometers, dental fillings thermostats, household paint, light bulbs of course, a lot of laboratory equipment and batteries. Some of these uses have largely gone, some still remain popular. Mercury poisoning was and still remains however very rare.

The real hazard is these small amounts we release in to the environment bioaccumulate, concentrating them in certain species such as fish.

Peter_Pan · 12 April 2012 at 12:28PM

Ben84 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry about it really, the amount of mercury they contain is tiny. Mercury however is very popular in many items in much greater amounts, for example thermometers, dental fillings thermostats, household paint, light bulbs of course, a lot of laboratory equipment and batteries. Some of these uses have largely gone, some still remain popular. Mercury poisoning was and still remains however very rare.

The real hazard is these small amounts we release in to the environment bioaccumulate, concentrating them in certain species such as fish.

What worries me is quantities may be tiny but what about all the other exposure of other things in tiny amounts and different cocktails we use in our homes and on ourselves in lots of tiny doses. When does a tiny dose stop being a tiny and become a potentially harmful amount?

Debbie

Disposing of energy efficent light bulbs

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