David Nebenzahl wrote:
In another thread discussing CFLs and their disposal, someone posted a
link to what seems to be the more-or-less "official" fluorescent-lamp
recycling site: http://www.lamprecycle.org.

Interesting site. But if one delves a little into the site--say on the
page describing lamp recyclers
(http://www.lamprecycle.org/lamprecyclers.shtml)--one reads this:

NEMA maintains these lists of companies in the United States and Canada
that either claim to recycle spent mercury-containing lamps or claim to
handle those lamps so that they end up at a recycling facility.
Recyclers are companies that claim to conform to the RCRA 40 CFR §273.6
definition of a "Destination facility" and operate under a state permit
or RCRA-equivalent authority to perform lamp recycling. Handlers are
either generators or third party firms that claim to collect lamps and
get them to recyclers.

Doesn't exactly inspire confidence that the bulbs you drop off at the
collection bin at the big-box store will actually get recycled, does it?

How do you know that those lamps won't just get ****canned (i.e.,
landfilled?) What kind of oversight is there over this whole recycling
scheme? Is this just more "greenwashing", meant to give consumers warm
fuzzy feelings that they're helping to "save the Earth" while, in
reality, doing nothing of the kind? What sort of watchdog is observing
the whole deal?

"Claim[s] to recycle"; that's the best we can come up with?

We're doomed.



I've '****canned' as you say, thousands of straight fluorescent tubes
and i'd bet that before i'm over, i will have '****canned' a few hundred
CFL's. I can't believe someone or some group make such a big deal out
of this. DAMN, people, just live life, don't make it an ordeal.

s