Free e-waste recycling events
January 9th, 2010 Categories: San Diego County Community News, What to do in San Diego
SAN DIEGO- Hopefully, like me you have replaced the light bulbs in your home with CFL’s or compact fluorescent light bulbs. They are probably the easiest way for any homeowner or business to save money, energy and natural resources.
One thing hasn’t changed: the energy savings. Compact fluorescents emit the same light as classic incandescents but use 75% or 80% less electricity.
What that means is that if every one of 110 million American households bought just one ice-cream-cone bulb, took it home, and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people. One bulb swapped out, enough electricity saved to power all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island. In terms of oil not burned, or greenhouse gases not exhausted into the atmosphere, one bulb is equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the roads. -Fast Company Magazine
The problem with them is they are considered hazardous household waste. The reason for this is they they contain mercury atoms in the gas that fills the bulb and mercury is a hazardous material.
But there are many electronic products we use daily that too are considered to contain hazardous material. I personally use one rule to decide if I am going to save the product for disposal at a e-waste event and that is, does it have a circuit board. If the answer is yes, I save it in a box and dispose of at these free events.
Starting today and tomorrow there is a e-waste disposal event in Carlsbad at the Westfield mall. January 16th and 17th there will be two events in La Jolla and La Mesa and finally a fourth on January 30th in Encinitas. Additionally, Recycle San Diego, has ongoing events at their location.
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Info about these recycling events is much appreciated. I, too, have these light bulbs and while they are great, disposing of them properly is a big problem.
Comment by Michelle Panik — January 13, 2010 #
Recycle San Diego site does not indicate fluorescent lamps or CFL are accepted.
Comment by Gary — January 30, 2010 #
You’re right Gary. They considered them “hazardous waste” not e-waste.
Comment by peddlincoastal — February 2, 2010 #