• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Environment / Conservation / Group wants CFL ban for landfills

Group wants CFL ban for landfills

March 29, 2010 By Andrew Beckett

Use of the energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs has been on the rise in recent years, as more people look to reduce power use.

However, Amber Meyer Smith with Clean Wisconsin says CFLs can pose a risk to the environment when thrown away, because they contain mercury. She says landfills are not designed to capture the contaminant, which can have harmful effects on wildlife and water supplies.

Clean Wisconsin is backing legislation being considered in the state Legislature, which would ban CFLs from landfills. It would also require the companies making them to pay for recycling programs, with the goal of collecting 70-percent of burned out bulbs.

Smith says the requirement wouldn’t be too hard to implement, because many retailers are already collecting old bulbs. She says the proposed bill would simply make producers shoulder the cost of recycling programs, instead of having consumers cover the cost.

Despite the risk of mercury leaking out of broken bulbs, Smith says CFLs are still much better for the environment than standard light bulbs because they require less energy to operate. She’s says coal-based electricity releases far more mercury.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:08)

cflva032810

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Environment / Conservation, Legislature



Featured Stories

Bucks hold off Pelicans for 4th straight win

WIAA Girls State Basketball Champions Underway

Wisconsin Volleyball Pauses Team Activities

Big Ten Changes Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament Dates

Marquette earns non-conference win at North Carolina (AUDIO)

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Bucks hold off Pelicans for 4th straight win

WIAA Girls State Basketball Champions Underway

Wisconsin Volleyball Pauses Team Activities

Big Ten Changes Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament Dates

Marquette earns non-conference win at North Carolina (AUDIO)

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC