Compact fluorescent bulbs could pose a hazard

CFLs collected at the Hazardous & Electronic Waste Depot in Belleville. Photo by Michelle Poirier.

By Michelle Poirier

BELLEVILLE – Energy efficient light bulbs could actually contaminate our environment and our health according to Environment Canada.

Approximately 90 per cent of compact fluorescent lamps are being thrown into landfills where they could contaminate the environment with mercury, according to recent media reports.

CFLs are the light bulbs that look like twisted tubes, they became all the rage for conscious consumers with their claim to be environmentally-friendly by using less energy and therefore saving money. But without proper disposal the cons to these bulbs may outweigh the pros.

These lamps contain small quantities of mercury which is what helps them use one quarter less energy than regular incandescent light bulbs, according to Environment Canada. And, when not properly disposed of the mercury can leak into the ground and air.

The Recycling Council of Ontario says old CFL lights should be dropped off at a local waste depot, which in Belleville would be The Hazardous & Electronic Waste Depot which is run by Quinte Waste Solutions.  Drop off  containers can also be found at the local Canadian Tire and RONA stores.

The Hazardous & Electronic Wast Depot is open from November to March on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. From April to October, the lights can be dropped off on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Becky MacWhirter, the sustainability coordinator at Loyalist College, says more information and promotion about what to do with the CFL bulbs is needed.

“The school intends to do more to inform students,” she said in an email to QNet. “Waste Management is one of our top sustainability priorities in 2015.”

She said that the fluorescent bulbs used at the college are disposed of properly by Green For Life, a waste management service.

Dan Orr, the communication coordinator at Quinte Waste, says he is always trying to educate people on recycling CFLs.

“Twice a year we mail out a hazardous waste schedule to all residents throughout the Quinte Region. So about 48,000 homes get a schedule and a list of materials that are accepted,” he said. “And then throughout the year as well we put out newspaper advertisements in all the community newspapers.”

Tanya Delaney, the operation supervisor at Quinte Waste Solutions, says she sees CFLs come in to be recycled every time the Hazardous & Electronic Waste Depot is open.

“The biggest hazard with the CFL is when they break,” she said. “For the most part the CFLs were the next best thing to the incandescents so they’re certainly better on the energy.”

Delaney stresses the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle. She said she wants people to use up the CFL bulbs they have and dispose of them properly and they should have no problems since the only hazard they pose is when they are broken.

Since the health hazard is with broken bulbs there are steps that are to be taken if a bulb is broken. The steps from the health section on The Government of Canada website are as follows:

• Leave the room
  • Remove people and pets from the room and keep them out of the room during the clean-up process.
• Ventilation
  • Ventilate the room for at least 15 minutes prior to starting clean-up by opening windows and doors to the outdoors.
• Clean-up Directions
  • Do not use a vacuum to clean up the initial breakage, as it will spread the mercury vapour and dust throughout the area and may contaminate the vacuum.
  • Wear disposable gloves, if available, to avoid direct contact with mercury and to prevent cuts.
  • Scoop or sweep up the broken pieces and debris with two pieces of stiff paper or cardboard. Do not use a broom.
  • Use sticky tape, such as duct tape or masking tape, to pick up any remaining fine glass or powder.
  • Wipe the area with a damp paper towel, cloth or disposable wet wipe to remove any residual particles.
  • Place the broken glass and clean-up materials in a container with a tight fitting lid to further minimize the release of mercury vapour.
• Disposal
  • Immediately place waste material outside of the building in a protected area away from children.
  • Dispose of the waste at a household hazardous waste location as soon as possible.
  • Do not dispose of the waste in your household trash.
• Wash
  • Wash your hands after storing and disposing of waste.

There are also helpful videos online showing exactly what to do with a broken bulb.

Charles Roeper, the manager of electrical at the Belleville Home Depot, says they no longer have a recycling program set up for CFLs but if people bring them in they will add them to their in store disposal for hazardous waste. They have a small sign by customer service with the address to the The Hazardous & Electronic Wast Depot. He said the sales of CFLs have gone down.

At the Home Depot CFLs only take up one facing now compared to the two facings plus displays that the LEDs get. Photo by Michelle Poirier.

“The market has changed quite a bit. It’s mainly LEDs that we sell now,” he said.

Roeper explained that the majority of their sales are through the LED bulbs which is why the section of CFL bulbs in the lighting section has gone down while the LED lights are taking up more and more space.

LEDs like the CLFs use very little electricity the difference is they do not contain the hazardous mercury that CFLs do.

“(LEDs) last upwards of 20 to 15 years. You look at a compact florescent and their lifespan is from five to seven years,” he said.

Because LED lights are so new and not at the point where they are in every home Delaney said there is no recycling program for them yet but they are not hazardous when thrown out. The LEDs are also more expensive then the CFL bulbs.

“In terms of conserving energy LEDs are by far the best thing we have right now on the market for conserving energy,” Delaney said. “So if you have (CFLs) use them up and then slowly over time the LEDs will go down in price and then we can all afford them.”