The safe disposal of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs is of particular importance to some US states because it is against the law to dispose of mercury light bulbs as normal trash. In the states of California, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin you will be prosecuted for this. This might seem like an extreme measure but if you look at the statistics, one will understand why such measures have to be taken.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that if all the 270 million compact fluorescent light bulbs sold in the US in 2007 were disposed of in landfill sites, that this would represent 0.1% of all mercury emissions for that year. This may not seem a lot but it adds up over the years and seeps into the rivers, water supplies and air. Mercury also bio-accumulates in fish and these are then eaten by humans.

So what is the best way to dispose of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs in the United States? One of the easiest ways is connected to The Home Depot, the American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. The Home Depot announced in 2008 that it would take back old compact fluorescent light bulbs in all 1,973 of its stores and then safely dispose of them according to national guidelines. The same is possible with the nation’s largest retailer Wal-Mart although it’s uncertain whether this is the case with all of their outlets.

If your Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb is broken by accident, it is advisable to leave the room after opening a window or two. When the room has been well ventilated for an hour, then return and with gloves, place the remains of the Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb in either a sealed glass jar (Maine DEP advice) or as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests, in two plastic bags (one inside the other) securely tied. The same measures can be taken if the bulb has come to the end of its life and you are not in a location where suitable and safe disposal of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs is possible.

Finally, the thought of buying Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs after reading all this might seem daunting and rather unsavoury. The Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb is very safe however and the levels of mercury in such bulbs are much lower than in regular thermometers for example. Even when the bulb is broken, as long as the room is ventilated and you wear gloves, then safe disposal is assured.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are initially more expensive which has often met with derision among the public. However what is often overlooked is the extended life of these energy saving bulbs which means in the longer term they are in fact better value for money than the incandescent bulb.

When the fluorescent bulb first came into being, the ballasts used were magnetic rather than electronic. This meant the bulb took longer to warm up. Other drawbacks included a flickering when first turned on and a buzzing noise. The consistency of the connection was not ideal nor was its strength. Another problem was the rather garish yellow tint the early bulbs gave out. This was due to the mono-phosphors structure rather than the modern multiple-phosphors.

Nowadays, the technology behind the fluorescent light bulb has increased tremendously. This form of lighting has gone from the infamous office space gloom to the now splendid residential must-have. Today, the majority come with a clean white light and a vast array of choices in exciting colors.

The average life span of a compact fluorescent light bulb is approx 8,000 hours. When compared to the regular incandescent bulbs, which have an average life span of between 500 and 2,000 hours, there is a clear and marked improvement. Not only does this mean less waste in the form of dead bulbs but also the need to climb up a step ladder to change the ceiling lighting fixtures becomes mercifully reduced. This is of particular benefit for the elderly and infirm.

One final point to consider is the use of trace amounts of mercury in compact fluorescent light bulbs. This in itself doesn’t present any danger to your family but it is important to dispose of them carefully by either taking the bulb to a recycling center or returning them to a lighting store where they can recycle them for you.