Energy Saving Light Bulbs

[Madhatter]

This year sees the start of the program by the government to phase out the traditional tungsten Light bulbs that we traditionally use and have up till now preferred.
However, it now appears that they may not be good for the environment around certain individuals. The lamps (the proper name for a bulb) can cause sickness, dizziness, epileptic seizures, skin complaints including itchiness and eczema. This appears to be down to the flicker of the lamp caused by the control gear and the skin conditions caused by the uv rays emitted by the lamps. Tradional tungsten lamps are stronger on the red spectrum.

I don't see why or how the government has been allowed to dictate to us which lamps we can and cant buy. There's a lot more to a lamp and lamp fitting than stuffing the cheapest to run lamp in it. The new lamps are cold feeling wash out shadows flicker and are unsuitable for many lighting design projects, as are LED's which flicker even more and give me headaches. The government is taking the choice away from us yet again, forcing it's ideas on us in what is supposed to be a democratic country.

[Vas deFerens]

this makes me incandescent with rage - what with this AND phasing out analogue TV, it's like living in Stalinist Russia

i don't care if the new ones save energy they are probably more expensive anyway and probalby give you diseases
and who says you cant throw flouresent tubes in skips. when did that law come in. you should be able to throw anything in a skip

[Vas deFerens]

my friend says this is like the government stopping lead petrol which meant cars that could not be converted had to be dumped
it takes away choice but why - probalby the goverment make more tax and people had to buy new cars

things should be left the way they are
they should not force us to change for no reason

[Admin]

Switch on to low energy bulb recycling

Published Wednesday 9th January 08 in Environment news

Environmentally-minded owners of low energy light bulbs are being reassured that they can dispose of them safely when they stop working at a number of locations in Warwickshire.
Warwickshire County Council wants to reassure residents following recent national and local news coverage expressing concerns about the hazardous materials contained in low energy light bulbs.

There are facilities for the recycling of household fluorescent tubes, sodium lamps and low energy bulbs at all of the nine recycling centres in Warwickshire.

In July 2005, the Government introduced a number of changes to the Hazardous Waste Regulations, classifying fluorescent tubes, sodium lamps, computer monitors and TVs as hazardous waste. Under the new regulations, producers of hazardous waste can no longer dispose of these items along with their general waste.

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: "When broken these items can release phosphor dust and mercury toxic vapour, therefore to avoid harm to our health and to the environment it is essential that we discard of our waste responsibly.

"However, the last thing we want is for people to switch off to recycling, so if you have a used light bulb, a low energy bulb or a fluorescent tube please visit your local recycling centre, where a recycling attendant will advise you where to deposit your waste."

Details about the county council's nine recycling centres, including information regarding the opening times, location and the materials we can recycle can be found at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/waste

If you have any questions about recycling and disposal please contact the Waste Management Team at WCC on tel: [phone] or email [e-mail].