broken an energy saving bulb recently?

[philoldsmobile]

Those flickering, dim compact fluorescent light bulbs that moonbats want to force us to use because they will allegedly save a few pennies on the electric bill cost about $4.28 a bulb — so long as you don't break one. If you do, the cost will be in the neighborhood of $2,004.28.

Knowing that the bulbs contain highly toxic mercury, Brandy Bridges of Ellsworth, Maine got on the phone for advice after breaking one. She ended up dealing with the bureauweenies at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, who sent a specialist to her house to test for contamination. Her daughter's bedroom had to be sealed off while she scraped up the $2,000 to pay for cleanup. Her insurance wouldn't pay because mercury is a pollutant.

There are about 5 billion light sockets in North American households. Each will be a potential toxic waste site if liberals are successful at imposing compact fluorescents.

By the way, compact fluorescent bulbs are manufactured in China and India, where there are virtually no environmental regulations. Waste presumably goes into the nearest river.

Soon we'll need to dispose of billions of these subpar bulbs. According to Maine safety standards, it takes 16,667 cubic meters of soil to contain the mercury in a single bulb. The entire country is going to turn into a Superfund site at the behest of environmentalists, whose Dem allies are pushing for a ban on incandescent bulbs in the name of the global warming hoax.

[Gator]

the old ones are a bit of glass and metal

eco loonies will destroy this planet

[HardRockCamaro]

While the story is true, that was some time ago and the problem was the Maine DEP, who had no idea what they were doing.  After this story got wide coverage they realised what a bunch of twonks they were and printed proper advice on the their website.

Yes CFL's contain mercury, yes you need to take a bit more care disposing of them vs incandescent bulbs, but you don't needs to call in a a hazardous waste team...


A lot of this rumour is put about by General Electric as they stand to lose out when people switch to longer lasting CFL bulbs.  Prices on CFL bulbs have been held artificially high as there is an import tax on them to stop the Chinese firms from bringing in their CFL bulbs, undercutting dmestic manufacturers.

In the name of the environment this artificial tax is to be abolished either this year or next (I forget which) hence GE are a bit miffed...


Personally I think LED bulbs are the way forward but they're well pricey at the moment, Philips is releasing one in the USA this year at about $70...


Actual EPA guidelines on cleaning up CFL breakages:

http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#flourescent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#flourescent

[Gator]

damn i broke my own rule about not believing anything i read on the net and in particular from Phil

[FUBAR]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

Waste presumably absolutely & without exception goes into the nearest river

I know this part to be absolutely true...

My brother (who lives there for those who don't know) has a "No Freshwater Fish" rule for a very good reason...