| Archive for NEEPS North East Eco-friendly People's Site |
| nichep |
LighbulbsI'm replacing all my lightbulbs with energy efficient bulbs, but what can I do with the old ones? Can I put them in my glass recycling? |
||
| misteralz |
Wow, what a top energy-effecient idea. Stop using something that works fine and replace it with something which is stupidly energy-intense to make and a bugger to recycle. 
|
||
| pete_inthehills |
No unfortunately you can't recycle lightbulbs.
But replacing them with energy efficient long life bulbs is a good thing. A long life bulb should last between 5-8 years and save you around £50 per bulb per year. (I may have to check that value) Don't worry too much about MrAlz's comments, he pretends to be a big controversial ogre, but he's just big softy really. 
Pete inthehills |
||
| DiddleDeDum |
That's true but I only replace the energy inefficient bulbs once they are done - it seems pointless chucking out something that works fine. | ||
| Diana |
Sorry, but I'm with Mr Alz on this one.
That said, old lightbulbs have loads of craft uses - vases, christmas tree decorations. Have a Google and a play |
||
| misteralz |
Yes you can. Well, you can with proper lightbulbs. Once they go 'pop', you smash them over the clear glass skip. The remains you throw in the metal skip. Piece of piss. Try that with 'energy saving' ones, and you'll probably get cancer. 
|
||
| Fia |
Apparently at Jewish weddings these days, instead of smashing a glass they now smash a (old sort I guess) lightbulb. So perhaps they can be donated to the nearest synagogue...
Mazel tov!
|
||
| pete_inthehills |
nah! mercury poisoning will kill you long before you get cancer. But its a bit more complicated to contract. If anyone wants to try out mercury poisoning try this handy methodology. What you need to do is take the tiny amounts of mercury that's in the bulb and get some small organism to link to it. This will create a composite compound called organo-mercury. This is in two parts, at one end there is a fat soluble organic molecule. At the other end there is the mercury atom. The clever thing about this is that although mercury on its own can't pass the blood/brain barrier, this organic version can. You'd need to eat an animal with this organo-mercury in its system to get a big dose. The best way to do this, is to regularly break the energy saving light bulb in to a pond, try also some thermometers as well. Do this for a couple of years so the mercury can bio-accumulate in the fish. When you eat the fish you'll take in a much bigger amount of organo-mercury. So finally, the mercury in your blood gets in to the brain and causes madness. or alternatively you could live near a mine discharging excess mercury in to the water courses http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamata_disease It always amazes me that Governments ignore deaths and disease in the population if it might intefere with profits. Pete inthehills |
||
| misteralz |
A proper lightbulb would last that long! And there's no way that fifty quid per year per bulb is correct. Didn't we have this argument just a couple of months ago?
|
||
| misteralz |
Just thought I should post up DEFRA's guidelines for dealing with a broken 'energy saving' lightbulb.
"Vacate the room and ventilate it for at least 15 minutes. Do not use a vacuum cleaner, but clean up using rubber gloves and aim to avoid creating and inhaling airborne dust. Sweep up all particles and glass fragments and place in a plastic bag. Wipe the area with a damp cloth, then add that to the bag and seal it. Mercury is hazardous and the bag should not be disposed of in the bin." I really don't want that $hit in my house. |