Incandescent bulb recycling?

[TurnedTheCorner]

So I've switched about 60% of my lightbulbs to CF bulbs. I know much has been made of the need for a recycling program for CF bulbs due to the mercury content - I'll worry about that in 4-5 years when these bulbs need replacing.

But what do I do with my incandescent bulbs now? Landfill? Glass recylcling at the depot? Other? I'm not sure what to do with these.

[ricosuave]

ikea will take them

[OracleOfCalgary]

I saw the recycling drop off for CF bulbs at Ikea. Basically just a regular garbage bin that you can drop CF's into. I can imagine a large number of them break. I wonder how long it will be until Workers Comp flags this as an environmental and health hazard for employees and customers. Also, there were a lot of incandescent bulbs in there too. How much material is there in an old fashioned light bulb and can it really be recycled? Some things really should just go in the garbage, especially if you are going to generate CO2 driving them down to Ikea.

[CrusaderPi]

Save the planet with mercury. A curious notion. I wonder what's worse for the environment? Carbon dioxide? Or mercury? I can't say for sure, but if given the choice I'd rather have CO2 in my house then mercury.


Sometimes I wonder if we might be doing more harm then good by so quickly embracing poorly thought out solutions.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I've read that the greenhouse gas emissions saved by switching to a CF bulb actually prevents more mercury from being released into the environment than if a CF bulb were to break. And that the mercury issue would only be a problem for a CF bulb while its operating.

Anyway, I called the city's 311 line. There is no recycling project for old incandescent bulbs. They go in the landfill with my other garbage.

[Mccree]

Other than dimmer switches is there a place NOT to use CF Blubs??

[TurnedTheCorner]

I've got a chandalier that uses about 6 of the tiny bulbs, not Type A bulbs. Track lighting wouldn't work with CF bulbs either, at least I don't know of CF bulbs made to fit those fixtures.

Environmental impact aside, I have no doubt the home improvement industry is licking its collective chops at the thought of how CF bulbs might drive a lot of lighting remodelling work for years to come.