PEOPLE LIKE THE IDEA OF LOW ENERGY BULBS, BUT IF THEY WERE TO BREAK, OR WHEN THEY BURN OUT, THROWING THEM IN THE TRASH COULD BE HARMFUL - BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE MERCURY IN THEM.


THE NEW WAVE OF COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS, OR CFL'S - HAS ITS PROS AND CONS.
PRO: THEY LAST YEARS, AND OPERATE AT A LOWER WATTAGE - SAVING YOU MONEY.
CON: THE MERCURY INSIDE THESE BULBS MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THROWING AWAY.

INSTEAD, YOU SHOULD TAKE THEM TO YOUR LOCAL HOUSEHOLD HAZERDOUS WASTE PROGRAM. THERE IS ONE IN BENTON COUNTY AND WASHINGTON COUNTY.
AND WITH THE GAINING POPULARITY OF THE BULBS, THE GROWING AMOUNT OF MERCURY WILL EVENTUALLY SEEP INTO THE EARTH.

AND IF MERCURY IS INGESTED THROUGH THE DRINKING WATER, IT CAUSES MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS - SPECIFICALLY TO THE CENTERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, AND TO ORGAN AND ORGAN SYSTEMS. BUT MERCURY IS MOST WELL KNOWN FOR ONE DISEASE.

IT CAN CAUSE CANCER

THESE SYMPTOMS ARE EXTREME, AND WILL NOT HAPPEN TO EVERYONE EXPOSED TO VAPORS. IF YOU BREAK ONE IN YOUR HOUSE... REED SUGGESTS TO PUT IT IN A ZIPLOCK BAG, OR CLOSED CONTAINER AND RBING IT TO THE HAZERDOUS WASTE CENTER.

THESE PROGRAMS IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WORK WITH A COMPANY HAZ-MERT IN ROGERS. THEY THEN SEND THE BULBS TO A RECYCLING PLANT IN LOUSIANA WHERE THE MERCURY VAPORS ARE REMOVED AND PROPERLY DISPOSED OF.



IF YOU WANT TO DROP OFF ANY OF THE LOW ENERGY BULBS, FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY IT'S FREE - BUT FOR EACH BATCH OF THEM AFTER THIS MONTH IS ONLY $5.