That's Fit

Exchanging your old, incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescents (CFLs) is probably one of the simplest things you can do to reduce your own personal consumption of energy. CFLs are readily available, reasonably priced, and newer versions have a much warmer light than the older-style CFLs. Some people worry about their safety, however, since the bulbs contain a small amount of mercury. As this article from Slate points out, we have little to fear from CFLs in our homes. If one does break, you simply need to follow a few simple steps.

But eventually, these long-lasting light bulbs will wear out, and tossing them into the trash just isn't a good idea, environmentally. Though the bulbs only contain about 1% of the mercury found in old-fashioned thermometers, over time, millions of light bulbs in landfills translates to too much mercury. Good recycling programs aren't in place yet (though I'm hopeful that they will be in the not-too-distant future), but until then, there are a few places you can go. You can search for a local CFL recycling program at Earth911, or you can take the bulbs to your local Ikea store. Finally, you can mail them to Recycle Pak.

It's a little extra effort, but your grandchildren's grandchildren will thank you!