Disposing of Dim Bulbs
by Rose Fox, New York City 
on 07. 5.06
Treehugger loves compact fluorescent bulbs: they use very little energy, give off very little waste heat (those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying being able to leave the lights on in the summer swelter), and last for years. Like all fluorescents, CFs contain mercury and shouldn't be tossed in the trash when their day is done. That's where LampRecycle comes in. The site, developed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, provides extensive information on recycling facilities and regulations across the U.S., plus links to relevant EPA pages. (While you're there, check the battery recycling information. It may not be compulsory yet, but it's a good idea.) LampRecycle was originally designed for businesses, but we suspect their Recycling Household Lamps page is going to start seeing a lot of traffic as more and more households make the switch. ::LampRecycle. See also: ::What About Mercury From Compact Fluorescents?
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I love the concept of CFs, but does anyone have a solution for the following problem: most of my lamps have shades that attach to the bulb, not the lamp itself. I'm reluctant to try to clamp a shade on to one of these delicate looking shapes.
Ideas?
Christopher,
I did a bit of searching and found this advice on the Residential ENERGYSmart Library:
"If a fluorescent is too large to fit inside a lamp shade harp (the metal bracket that holds the shade above the bulb), harp extenders can be purchased that will solve the problem by both widening and heightening the space available for the bulb. One problem with harp extenders, however, is that they raise the lamp shade, which may partially expose the lamp to view. A circular compact fluorescent may be the solution if the double or triple tube models are too tall for a lampshade. The harp fits between the ballast and the circular lamp. However, you may still need harp extenders to widen the space for the ballast. This "Circline" style is not a "compact" fluorescent. It's more like a linear tube bent into a circle. Circlines may have poorer color rendition but are available with higher light output then most true compacts fluorescents, making it easier to replace incandescents of 100-watts or greater."
I hope that's helpful to you. Thanks for writing!
LuxLite makes compact fluorescent bulbs that are shaped like incandescents. (I'm sure other companies do too, but there's a good picture of one at this link, and I have been able to find their bulbs easily on eBay.)
This's good information, I've always wondered where to recycle my CFLs. Too bad they're not like ink cartridges, where you can bring them back to the store you bought them at (for a store credit sometimes too).
Does anyone make a three way CF bulb. You know the ican's with two filimants, for low, med, high. I'm visioning two seperate tubes intertwined so either or both will light.
Also are there any CF's that will work with a dimmer?
--
editor note: Not sure about your first question, but I do know that some CFLs work with dimmers.
Yes. they do make 3 way cf bulbs. There are several brands and brightness levels available on Amazon.com.
Also, yes, there are dimmable cf bulbs too. In my opinion,Harmony brand from Light Wiz dimmable cf bulbs are the best ones I have tried. They are bright immediately and have a light color output similiar to incandescent bulbs.
IKEA recycles CFL bulbs
"Recycle Information
Bring your used mercury containing lightbulbs to the IKEA store for free disposal. Since our CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, they should not be simply tossed out. IKEA offers the perfect solution: a ‘Free Take Back’ program offering recycle bins in all IKEA stores. Or for lamp disposal information for your state, please go to www.lamprecycle.org to obtain more information." They also reference lamprecycle.....
What do you do if you break these cfl bulbs? I heard a rumor that you should not sweep them up and throw them in the trash.
I noticed how many people responded to
the question about how to clean up the
mercury once one of these cfl's breaks...
maybe we should just bring them back to the
retailer in hopes for a return deposit to buy more...
that would be a good incentive to keep buying
more, and in turn, would ensure that
mercury vapors don't pollute, or should I say re-pollute....
.