A slight negative for a big positive

While reading this month's Mother Earth News, I came across an interesting bit of information that was completely new to me and I'd like to share it.

"Compact fluorescents do have a downside: They contain tiny amounts of mercury, so instead of throwing them out, they should be recycled or taken to your city’s hazardous waste collection point." (Source)

Really? Very good to know considering I've made an effort to get more of the compact fluorescents into our residence.

But worry not, even though they contain a tiny bit of mercury, they're still better when you look at the bigger picture and their overall benefits. See below from NPR's Morning Edition.

"...even though fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, using them contributes less mercury to the environment than using regular incandescent bulbs. That's because they use less electricity — and coal-fired power plants are the biggest source of mercury emissions in the air." (Source)

Interested in properly disposing of your compact fluorescents? Check Earth 911 for a site near you! If you're close to an IKEA store, they offer bulb disposal/recycling services.

Switching to the compact fluorescents seemed like a bit of an investment when I purchased a 4 pack from Target for $15 or so. Then I found Costco was offering multi-packs of both 75 and 100 watts at bargain prices (8 Energy Star certified bulbs for around $10). But really, the cost is secondary to the energy savings.

Now that I've learned this information I see that a mercury warning is printed on the side of the bulb. Lesson learned? If you're not reading Mother Earth News, read your light bulbs.