How am I supposed to dispose of these wretched 'energy saving' light bulbs given that they are full of mercury? We were told that they would last for years, but they blatantly don't - I am reluctant to just chuck it in the bin.
You can take your unwanted energy saving bulbs to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre for disposal. However you may find that some local supermarkets, such as Sainsburys will take them.
HTH
I was reluctant with these at first but gave in to them to save electric. do they have high levels of mercury?
I was reluctant with these at first but gave in to them to save electric. do they have high levels of mercury?
No, it's minimal, but there is a small risk of the bulb giving off some mercury vapour if the bulb is broken. Hence the governments advice what to do if you break a bulb.
HTH,
Myarka.
Thanks myarka
Bear in mind there is no safe level of mercury, it's considered harmful in any amount, the degree only increases with exposure, and it is cumulative with a very long half-life in the body. Put a lamp into landfill and who knows where the mercury ends up.
I had high hopes for energy-saving lightbulbs when they came out, now I think they're an utter disappointment. Apart from poor light levels, slow warm-up times, expensive embedded energy in their construction and over-optimistic claims for their energy-saving ability, they are pointless or even useless for many applications.
And in winter, they may not save any energy in any case, in any house where the temperature is thermostat controlled, as they warm the house, thus saving on heating costs, hence one reason why the claims for their efficiency are exaggerated.
I did hear of one shop getting round the law by selling 'electric globular heaters' instead of incandescent bulbs.