Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs

In a letter to the editor in the Summer 2006 edition of One Earth , a reader questions whether Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL's) should be promoted. The reader points out that CFL's contain mercury, and that improper disposal harms the environment, thus outweighing the benefits of using CFL's. The folks at NRDC had this response:

Most electricity in the United States comes from coal-fired power plants, and burning coal releases mercury. On average, the amount of mercury contained within a CFL, plus the amount of mercury released while burning enough coal to power that bulb, is less than half of what would be released while burning coal to power a less-efficient incandescent bulb over the same period of time.

NRDC has more on CFL's and mercury on their site:

... Over a CFL's 10,000-hour life span, the mercury within the bulb, plus the mercury emitted by power plants supplying electricity to the bulb, adds up to about 8 milligrams. An incandescent has a life span of just 1,000 hours, or one-tenth the lifespan of a CFL. To equal one CFL, you would have to burn 10 incandescents, emitting about 17.6 milligrams of mercury. By the time CFLs burn out, little mercury remains. But don't throw the bulb in the trash; it might end up at the incinerator. Ask about disposal at your local Household Hazardous Waste collection site.