CFL Bulbs

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) bulbs are all the rage with environmentalists. This seems all well and good; they burn less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. California recently passed(?) legislation that aims to convert all light bulbs in the state to CFLs. I'm not going to comment on the "quality" of the light, but I recently learned that these bulbs contain mercury - the neuro-toxin. You can't recycle them along with the typical recyclables, as they contain a hazardous material. Because they are so small, people are tempted - may not even think not - to throw them in the trash. This is bad. When they break in the trash, which they will, waste management people can get poisoned or the area surrounding your trash could accumulate mercury. The dark side of this light bulb.