Department pressed to shed light on safe bulb disposal

THE Department of the Environment has been criticised for suggesting people should consult the internet for advice on disposing of a type of light bulb containing mercury.

The compact fluorescent light bulbs will be used in every home once Environment Minister John Gormley pushes through proposals to ban traditional light bulbs.

As they use less energy than traditional light bulbs, the CFL bulbs are more environmentally friendly.

However, they contain small traces of mercury, a substance hazardous to human health. This has raised concerns about the disposal of broken bulbs.

Labour said it was “very worrying” Mr Gormley had not requested the Environmental Protection Agency to draw up guidelines for their safe disposal.

Labour environment spokeswoman Joanna Tuffy said it was worse still that the department was referring people to the internet for advice.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has issued advice on how to dispose safely of CFL bulbs, as has the British Department of the Environment.

The guidance says a person should vacate the room the broken bulb is in for 15 minutes before cleaning it up. It also issues specific advice on how to handle the bulb thereafter.

But the Environmental Protection Agency here says it has not been requested to prepare guidelines. A spokesman for the Department of the Environment was quoted as saying yesterday that it would consider requesting the EPA to do so, but in the meantime, people should consult the internet for advice.