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Don’t panic if bulb goes
• IT’S true new energy-saving light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, but old-style bulbs were responsible for a lot more (Beware of these bulbs, April 17).
Over its lifetime, a low-energy bulb will put around 56mg of mercury into the air through its manufacture, electricity it uses and eventual disposal. An old-style bulb is responsible for at least 300mg.
At the end of their life, energy-saving bulbs should be taken to the Household Re-use and Recycling Centre opposite Caledonian Road station. But if people do throw them away in their rubbish, landfill sites are designed to stop mercury escaping.
A broken low-energy bulb is not a cause for panic. If the bulb is broken when switched off, the small amount of mercury can be gathered quite easily with the broken glass and carefully disposed of. When the bulb is on the mercury is on. The mercury is in gas form and opening a window will help it disperse.
Andrew Ford
Green Living Centre advice team leader, Islington Council
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