Flick You Dullton...No Disrepect Intended

A couple of citizens, remember the people who pay you wages, have some questions about your light bulb campaign.

In a good light
May 5.

The most important, understated and under-reported issue with compact fluorescent light bulbs is, because they contain mercury and have to be "sent to a hazardous waste depot," what are we to do if one of these micro-environmental hazards breaks in our home? Is there a safe way for us to clean this stuff up?

What if a bulb breaks on the tiled floor of our kitchen as we struggle to get this cute little pigtailed Earth-saver out of its bulletproof plastic packaging, and microscopic white mercury-contaminated powder falls on the same floor upon which our children walk, babies crawl and pets eat?

Do we buy a sheet of plastic and a roll of duct tape, and cordon off the area? Do we contact those Haz-Mat guys in protective gear? And who pays for cleaning up this hazardous spill? Am I overreacting? Perhaps. But are the dangers of eating mercury in tuna more or less important and reportable than having 52 of these mercury-containing bulbs in one's home?

I know there will be those who will defend this change, saying that the amount of mercury contained in one bulb is low and is much less than what is discharged into the air from burning coal. But how much mercury is safe?

Mark Tufano, Mississauga

Columnist Catherine Porter says that replacing some of her incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents will mean "fewer kilograms of carbon dioxide spilled out of Nanticoke or another power plant." If that other power plant happens to be a hydro or nuclear plant, there are no emissions. And from late evening to early morning, the hydro and nuclear plants provide almost all of Ontario's electricity.

The only time emissions can potentially be reduced is during the early-evening peak demand in the winter, when coal-fired stations are needed. But by the time the ban on incandescents takes place in 2012, more refurbished nuclear-power units and gas-fired plants will be available, so even these emissions will be reduced.

Donald Jones, Mississauga