Fluorescent Lighting

FromProduct Stewardship Institute, Inc.

Fluorescent Lamps are an environmental paradox: they are environmentally sound because they use a fraction of energy to produce light compared with the incandescent lamps that they replace. They also last up to 10,000 hours, while many incandescent bulbs fail at 1,500 hours. But, they do contain a small amount of mercury, a harmful neurotoxin that should not be disposed of in landfills or incinerators. The number of fluorescent bulbs is also growing rapidly due to effective marketing by manufacturers, large retailers, and environmental/conservation groups. More than a half billion fluorescent lamps are now sold annually, and large numbers of spent lamps are already entering the waste stream. Since they can release mercury into the environment, these lamps must be recognized as a special waste and managed responsibly.