Does mercury represent a threat to the environment?
Actually, the net environmental benefit of using CFLs to replace incandescent lamps is positive. Reductions in mercury emissions from reduced power generation far outweigh mercury emissions from any type of lamp disposal activity. To minimize emissions from lamp disposal activities, NEMA recommends recycling CFLs and other fluorescent lamps, which is required by law in some states and local jurisdictions. NEMA is also working with US EPA, retailers and other groups to increase available recycling options. Lamps that are not recycled typically end up in landfills and, to a lesser extent, household waste incinerators. Neither of these is a significant source of mercury emissions to the environment. Landfill emissions are extremely small and incinerators are tightly controlled by regulations established under the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, which led to a 90+% drop in incinerator emissions over the subsequent decade. Emissions from lamp disposal activities pale in comparison with the v
