I agree with you Lilith. Most of this is hysteria. Circa 1960 the scientists said we were facing an ice age.

I think we have to be responisbile and tread lightly; however, just as the economy, the environment also runs in cycles -- and can correct itself in most cases. We still need to be conscientious of our actions though.

Perhaps you should check out this link. It will clear up how to dispose/clean up one of those bulbs. It does not involve call in a hazardous materials disposal team.

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf

Info from the site:

What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?
EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent
light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal
options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to
www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?
Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal
guidelines:

1. Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room
•
Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
•
Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
•
Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.


2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
•
Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with
metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
•
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass pieces and powder.
•
Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
•
Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug:
•
Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a
sealed plastic bag.
•
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
•
If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
•
Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic
bag.

4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.:
•
If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside
the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or
bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
•
You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken
CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not
come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
•
If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off
with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for
disposal.

5. Disposal of Clean-up Materials
•
Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash
pickup.
•
Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
•
Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not
allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a
local recycling center.

Thanks

I've seen this before on a utube


how absolutely ridiculous.....



what is this Country thinking ???




and they are making it so we have no choice



in what lightbulbs we use very soon....



Let's all go back to making & burning candles & riding horses



that time period had its share of problems


but



i think it was wayy better back then

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4828175.html

Yes. A machine for making artificial snow.

If Al Gore had not invented the internet, we all would not be sitting here talking on the forums and wasting valuable electricity and our bosses time.

Now ole Al is worrying about global warming. I wish he could just got a job and be a productive citizen.

yeah i know what the hell is wrong with him?!?
.

You're welcome.