From Freedom Action
Freedom Action this week launched a national grassroots campaign to repeal the ban on incandescent light bulbs that is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2012. Supporters of repealing the ban are being invited to sign a petition to Congress at FreeOurLight.org.The ban on standard incandescent bulbs was included in comprehensive anti-energy legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress and signed into law by Republican President George W. Bush in 2007. The chief sponsors of the ban were Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.).
Rep. Upton, now Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has said that his committee will hold a hearing on the ban, but he has not promised to repeal it, as was erroneously reported in the press in December. The 2007 law makes the sale of standard incandescent 100-watt bulbs illegal as of January 1, 2012, 75-watt bulbs as of January 1, 2013, and 60- and 40-watt bulbs as of January 1, 2014.
Read the rest at Freedom Action and see FreeOurLight.org.
Hal, you have extra bulbs? I now no where to go when the hazmat teams comes to pick up this lousy mercury. Broke two already and simply “disposed” of them and replaced with the good old ones that are twice as bright and turn on instantly!
You have broken two? I don’t know if I would have disclosed that…the EPA may come pounding on Dan’s door looking for an address. I think it’s illegal to break ’em. You get a fine, or a fee or a penalty of some sort. Maybe they take your property and give it to Best Buy for more tax revenue.
Hal, I was changing the darn things when they went out a year ago. Thought nothing about it. It was a light bulb! Now I know I should be dead? Where’s the EPA?
We’ve turned a new page!! Paul, I think I am going to start selling HAZMAT suits, maybe even a CFL light bulb clean-up kit. It’s a ground floor business oportunity. I just need some start up capital. You in?
Neil, I know you are joking but I really think it may be a real starter. Do you mind if I seriously look into this…
You know I was joking, but after I posted it I thought that might actually be viable. And would it matter if I minded? I might be a little miffed if you made a fortune off of my idea, but no, I’m kidding, if you can make it work… have at it, by all means. I would like a little credit for the original idea though. How does 1/2 of 1% of the profits sound?
Ok, I did a little research and I think I know what should go into the kit. According to the instructions for broken CFL clean-up found here:
http://homerepair.about.com/od/electricalrepair/ss/cfl_epa_cleanup.htm
Ventilate the Room Before You Clean Up the Broken Bulb
•Have people and pets leave the room, and don’t let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
•Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
•Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
•Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
•Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
•Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.
•Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug
•Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
•Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
•If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
•Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.
Disposal of Clean-up Materials
•Immediately place all cleanup materials outside the building in a trash container or outdoor protected area for the next normal trash.
•Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
•Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.
Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Ventilate the Room During and After Vacuuming
•The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to vacuuming.
•Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.
A set of rubber gloves, a length of duct tape, a plastic bag large enough to take a vacuum bag labeled “hazardous material”, a small dustpan, a couple of wet-wipes, and I think a dust mask would be a good addition. Oh, and a card with the above instructions written on it.
Not a bad idea! Could also make them camo colored? We don’t want to be conspicuous do we.
Camo? I don’t know I was thinking blaze orange, or black and yellow diagonal stripes with a skull and crossbones. I suppose there a endless possibilities for color schemes!
Put me in for two! I have a great idea for the Logo on the box! I know a guy in Vegas who can set us up as a “non-profit” with no questions asked!
How the heck am I gonna get 1/2 of 1% of the profits if it’s non-profit? Hello?!?!?!?
I posted that before you asked for the cut. Hey if you need to locate the business somewhere, Vegas is the place….I guess I just like Vegas…weird.
I’m just funnin’ with ya’. I used to go to Vegas all the time when I was stationed at Ft. Irwin. (45 mi. NE of Barstow Ca.) I went to an Ozzy Osborne concert at UNLV it was a fun time! Although I am the worst gambler to set foot in Vegas. Let me put it this way, if you ever need to lose vast sums of money, hand it to me, point me towards a blackjack table and it will be gone in a matter of minutes!
I saw Dio in Nashville when I was stationed at Ft, Campbell, ears are still ringing! That was back in 1988!
I love Dio. I was sad to learn that he died last May.
Like the Skull and crossbones with a bulb in the middle. My God, Neil, after reading all of the things about cleanup I should have died a few years ago! I didn’t see any EPA study warning me, or a skull and crossbones on the light bulb did you ever see one? Should have had Gore’s picture of endorsement, and I never would have purchased, however that said, Pres. GWB pushed it through. He did make mistakes and this is one.
Dude, if anyone should be dead from this it should be me. I remember when I was in the Army, I was on a detail to clean out an old supply shed that was full of the long tube CFL bulbs. There had to be well over a hundred of them, and we smashed them all. It was very fun at the time, but pretty stupid in retrospect.
My God, we are “The walking dead.” Thank you EPA!
Brrrraaaaiiiiiinnnnnsssss!!!!
Tell me that stuff doesn’t stay with you for years like a Sunfish in white Bear Lake!
Huh?, what? What is a sunfish? To much mercury in my brain just like Neil. Have an excellent evening!