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Contains Mercury
Dispose according to Local, State or Federal Laws
See www.lamprecycle.org or call 1-800-378-6998

In fact, on my package of compact fluorescent light, or CFL, bulbs, this surprising statement is the largest print on the package (other than the company name). Hard to miss, yet many people have, including me.

The low energy consumption- 14 watts equivalent to a comparable 60-watt traditional incandescent bulb- and long life (in excess of 10,000 hours compared to 1,000 at best for an incandescent) of CFLs have been well-proven.

Spending a little more up front for compact fluorescents saves in the long run, but the environmental cost of the mercury - less than 1/10 of that contained in the old mercury thermometers- must be considered since the bulb cannot be simply thrown away. A broken bulb, whether in your hands, in the garbage, or in the neighborhood, could be considered a mini-hazard. In some locations, such as mine, it appears bulbs may be packaged up and shipped to a recycler. Not impossible, but not inexpensive, either.

I have a number of projects completed and under way that use CFLs, including in my own home. So… before they burn out, it pays to get this situation figured out.

Source: CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury, NPR.