WalMart Muscles Manufacturers into Low Mercury CFLs

Written by Philip Proefrock

Thursday, 10 May 2007

A press release out this morning from Wal-Mart announced a reduction in the mercury content of the compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) it sells. Concern about mercury content in CFLs is one of the reasons some people do not want to use them, despite the fact that they introduce less mercury into the environment if they should happen to break than is introduced into the atmosphere from the coal burned to power less efficient incandescent bulbs for a similar period of time.

Although the 800-pound gorilla of retail undoubtedly used its muscle to help move these manufacturers along, it is unlikely that these new, lower mercury CFLs will only be available from Wal-Mart (though they may show up there sooner than in other locations).

Some manufacturers are announcing reductions as much as 50%-60% below current limits for CFLs. Individual manufacturers highlights from the announcement include:

GE Consumer & Industrial will reduce CFL mercury content up to 50 percent from NEMA levels in new products, while maintaining the excellent light quality and long life that GE customers expect.

Philips currently supplies Wal-Mart with CFLs that have mercury contents 40 to 60 percent below the NEMA level of 5 mg per unit (for CFLs less than 25W). Philips utilizes pellet dosing versus liquid mercury to ensure safe and accurate levels of mercury per bulb, and continues to look for ways to reduce the amount of mercury in its CFL, while still maintaining the lamps' high quality and performance characteristics.

OSRAM SYLVANIA CFLs currently meet the NEMA standard of 5 mg of mercury, with reflector lamps that are 40 percent lower at 3 mg. Sylvania has committed to reducing the mercury content in all of its CFLs to 4 mg or less by the end of 2007, and to 2.5 mg by the end of 2008.

Lights of America will reduce the amount of mercury in its CFLs by up to 50 percent. Wal-Mart's new standards have resulted in Lights of America identifying a different metal alloy technology that improves bulb performance while requiring less mercury per bulb. This technology is currently being added to Lights of America CFLs and the company expects all of its bulbs to have no more than 2 mg of mercury by the end of 2007.

The next step we look for is for major retailers such as Wal-Mart who are selling these bulbs to begin offering recycling/take-back programs to collect CFLs that have reached the end of their working life for safe disposal.

Thanks Sustainablogger

Link: PR Newswire

Comments (8)

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written by Dan , May 10, 2007

I think this is quite funny actually, although reducing the mercury in CFLs is definately something to work towards, the concencus I've seen is that this is mainly an american concern. When a CFL breaks in the US they might as well call in a HAZMAT team to clean up, anywhere else you open a few windows and vaccum the mess up ASAP. Maybe something to do with the US having Warning and Saftey stickers on just about everything you can stick one to.

Keep this in mind...
written by Edina , May 12, 2007

Note:The immediate changes that occur when consumers speak up. A large corporation easily changes a manufactures products or conditions.

Uh Dan...
written by Dwindle , May 15, 2007

When a CFL breaks, the room (10x10x8, for example) contains three times the OSHA limit for mercury contamination, and requires respirators.

With your open window, it would takes approx. 1.5 hours before it would be safe to breath in it.

They are highly toxic, and cause severe birth defects.

By the time you have opened your window, you, or your 2 year old have already consumed large quantities of mercury.

Yes, Dan, one woman had to pay over $2,000 to have her bedroom decontaminated by a hazmat squad.

snopes
written by Scientist , May 28, 2007

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp

No, no woman paid $2,000 to clean up one
written by Ed Darrell , June 10, 2007

The woman in Maine who claimed to have been told she needed a HazMat team? Can't verify it from any other source. Maine's Department of Environmental Protection points to their website that explains how to easily, cheaply and effectively clean a spill. Air the room for an hour, used gloves and damp paper towels, essentially. Were it possible for one bulb to cause birth defects, OSHA would be all over it. So would EPA. That's simply untrue.

Here, get some facts: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2fgwls

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They are highly toxic, and cause severe birth defects.

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Philip Proefrock
		About the author:
		Philip Proefrock is an architect and photographer in southeast Michigan. His award winning projects include the Malletts Creek Branch Library which has the first completed commercial green roof in the state of Michigan.
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