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• May 4, 2008 10:19 pm US/Mountain
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  CFL Recycling Guidelines Cause Fear, Confusion

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CFL Recycling Guidelines Cause Fear, Confusion

CBS4 Investigation Finds CFL Bulb Precautions Not Being Taken In Denver City Building

DENVER (CBS4) ― A CBS4 investigation found that some Coloradans, as well as city of Denver employees, are either in fear of or confused by the correct procedures for recycling the popular new, compact fluorescent lights that are on the market.

CFLs are a proven energy-saver, but they contain a small amount of mercury. The problem develops when a bulb breaks.

According to guidelines posted on the Web site for the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, several precautions should be taken.

-- The room where the bulb shatters should be vacated of people and ventilated for 15 minutes.
-- The broken pieces should be scooped up using cardboard (don't use a vacuum or a broom because it could circulate toxic fumes).
-- The collected debris should then go into a sealed zip-lock bag.

Despite the energy saving reputation of CFLs, Charlotte Moore of Englewood said she's opposed to them because of the danger they pose.

"I took them out and don't use them," Moore told CBS4.

The EPA maintains CFLs are perfectly safe for household use as long as the proper precautions are taken dealing with any broken bulbs.

Denver recently retrofitted the City County Building with CFLs, but when CBS4 asked to see what was being done with the broken bulbs that contain small amounts of mercury, dozens of smashed CFLs lying in an open top barrel in the basement of the building were found. The City wasn't adhering to EPA precautions.

"There may be some mercury that's going into the atmosphere of that room." EPA environmental scientist Matthew Langenfield said.

Several days later, CBS4 was invited back to find all the broken bulbs repackaged, covered and sealed -- in apparent compliance with EPA guidelines.

The city of Denver then thanked CBS4.

"As a result of you bringing this to the city's attention, we've been able to make these changes," said Kevin Patterson, manager of the city's Department of General Services.

All Ace Hardware stores in Colorado now recycle CFL bulbs, including the broken ones which must be in sealed zip bags.

Additional Resources

• To read more about CFLs and mercury, visit a special section of the EPA's Web site.

(© MMVIII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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