Toxic Lightbulbs

In an attempt to save the planet from ourselves, you may have purchased a few fluorescent lightbulbs to replace the .03 cent ones that you're more accustomed to using.

Here's a detailed 10 step guide to dealing with broken light bulbs has been drawn up by the UK House of Commons Commission—an organization responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Parliamentary estate.

Naturally, this had many taxpayers in an uproar. It seems that the people are angry that they need tax money to tell them how to throw away a lightbulb. A spokesman for the Taxpayers' Alliance referred to the list as "ridiculous." He went on to gripe about how public officials are being paid to write "guidelines on how to use a dustpan and brush." However, Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. Not something to play around with - anymore.

But right when you think that the nanny state will step in and educate the public - Nick Harvey, the Commission spokesman, said nothing of mercury in his response. Instead, he noted that the guidelines were necessary, because "there had been an incident where a light bulb had been broken and placed in a waste paper bin. Someone had picked it out and cut their finger." So it appears that a portion of the commission's £144 million budget is spent on band-aid prevention?

I have not seen such warnings from Al Gore, nor our own governmental bodies warning of the mercury that these bulbs contain, nor am I aware of my disposal procedures for such bulbs in the U.S. Feel free to forward that message along in the comments section. Expect these to be filling up our landfills and entering the water supply in, oh, about 5-7 years when they burn out.