Himachal launches green policy on used CFL lamps
December 11th, 2011 - 2:43 pm ICT by IANSShimla, Dec 11 (IANS) Worried over the environmental hazard posed by discarded CFL and fluorescent lamps, the Himachal Pradesh government is working on a policy to make firms manufacturing and trading in them to buy back used lamps from consumers for their safe disposal.
The firms have been told to put in place a policy by Dec 27 to buy back used lamps from consumers.
“We are trying to develop a policy for safe disposal of discarded CFLs as they contain toxic mercury and, of course, they are a waste management challenge,” Additional Chief Secretary (Forest and Environment) Sudipto Roy told IANS.
He said with obsolete CFLs and fluorescent tubes finding their way into the municipal waste, there is a threat of entry of carcinogenic chemicals into the soil, water and air.
The government Friday held talks with CFL manufacturers and traders for framing guidelines in this regard.
As per government estimates, there are over one million CFLs in use in the state and the volume is increasing every year.
As part of an energy saving drive, the state launched the Atal Bijli Bachat Yojana in November 2008 in which a pack of four CFLs - two each of 15 watt and 20 watt - were provided to 1.65 million consumers free of cost.
- Himachal saves Rs.1 bn-worth power through CFLs - Jan 03, 2010
- Himachal aims to earn carbon credits - Dec 08, 2010
- Tamil Nadu bans incandescent bulbs to save power - Aug 20, 2010
- Campaign to promote fluorescent lamps - Jul 07, 2011
- Graft, scams hog limelight in Himachal assembly (Himachal Pradesh Newsletter) - Apr 01, 2012
- Himachal should promote use of biomass fuel: Gadkari - May 09, 2012
- Chandigarh to launch project to popularise CFLs - Feb 17, 2010
- Broken CFLs can be unsafe - Jul 07, 2011
- Mercury makes eco-bulbs 'a health hazard for babies and pregnant' - Dec 23, 2010
- In the name of Atal: Dhumal 'signs' in praise (Himachal Pradesh Newsletter) - May 12, 2012
- Energy saving light bulbs 'contains carcinogenic chemicals' - Apr 20, 2011
- India must manage energy demand efficiently: Shinde - May 05, 2010
- Himachal to distribute CFLs as part of power-saving scheme - Nov 23, 2008
- Compact fluorescent energy saving lamp 'better than incandescent bulbs' - Oct 23, 2010
- Karnataka mulls mandatory use of CFL bulbs - Feb 28, 2011
Tags: carcinogenic chemicals, cfl, cfls, chief secretary, consumers, environmental hazard, fluorescent lamps, government estimates, himachal pradesh government, management challenge, mercury, one million, regard, soil water, toxic mercury, tubes, waste management, yojana