He encouraged the recycling of the new CFLs at Home Depot and other retailers voluntarily offering such programs.Įarlier this year, Home Depot ended its CFL recycling program, saying provinces and "third-party agencies are better equipped to manage these kinds of programs." Recycling, mercury regulations 'a work in progress'Ī spokesman for Environment Canada says regulations that require recycling programs and that set mercury-content limits remain a work in progress. The uncertainty and inaction is a far cry from the splashy announcement in 2007, when then-environment minister John Baird touted the Conservative government's bold leadership.īaird told a 2007 news conference staged at a Home Depot outlet in Nepean, Ont., that the light-bulb initiative would reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by more than six million tonnes annually. While fluorescent bulbs contain about five milligrams of mercury - less than in a watch battery, according to Natural Resources Canada - Health Canada recommends that items containing mercury be treated as hazardous waste. 1.Ī spokeswoman for Natural Resources says the government intends to implement the halogen exception in a "timely fashion," depending on feedback, with no deadline set.Īnd Environment Canada still has not enacted new regulations that would limit the amount of mercury contained in each CFL, and that would compel manufacturers and distributors to recycle them. 19, and won't be part of the new regime Jan. The relaxed proposed rule about halogen bulbs, which are cheaper than CFLs, is out for public commentary until Dec. In the meantime, the government proposed allowing a newer kind of incandescent bulb, filled with halogen gas, to remain on store shelves even though it doesn't meet the tough efficiency standards that were proposed in 2007 when the environment was top of mind for most Canadians. 1, 2014, to "allay" consumer concerns about cost and flexibility. The new rules were set to start in 2012, but then were postponed to Jan. The Conservative government announced an aggressive plan in 2007 that would effectively remove most incandescent bulbs from retail shelves in favour of more expensive alternatives, such as compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs. Fluorescent bulbs: The good, the bad and the ugly.1, 2014, almost seven years after it was announced with fanfare by a then-rookie Conservative government.īut the tough regulations are being watered down, and there are no federal rules yet on recycling a class of bulbs that meet the new standard but contain toxic mercury. A federal ban on inefficient light bulbs goes into effect Jan.
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