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Dispose of compact flourescent lightbulbs properly

March 19, 11:54 PMGreen Living ExaminerAmy Jeanroy
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Flickr user Pauladamsmith

I love the CFL idea. They give off a clear, bright light and seem to last forever. 

 

They do not last forever though. Did you know that they contain a small amount of mercury? These wonderfully, useful items are really a great addition to the green home, but their disposal should be carefully considered before purchase.

Three DO'S when buying CFL:

Know where to recycle - Recycle them at Home Depot.  or at this fabulous company: light bulb recycling

Know how to keep them if you can't recycle - Store them in a container, in an out of the way place to avoid breakage. One recommendation is to use a 5 gallon bucket. That is a LOT of storage!

Know how to use them - They throw light differently than incandescent bulbs. They don't do well in cold or unstable conditions (think basements and ceiling fans).

Know what you are buying - Quality varies widely. Buy the best quality you can afford. Yes, they are worth the cost!

Questions? Comments? Email Amy!

 

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