Dear LPG,

I remember reading an article on the pages of LPG when it was still a paper, which told of what was then a new type of light bulb.  The old fashioned ones were being phased out and the new ones were going to cost us more to buy but less to use because they were also going to last longer while using so much less energy, and create less heat.

I also remember reading about the fact that they contain breathable traces of mercury which are harmful to the human constitution.  I read that if you broke one in a room at home you needed to open the windows and leave the room, not to mention the cleaning up procedure requiring instructions that read like a complete recipe.  Another consequence of this was that you should not put any spent ones in your own bin at home and needed to dispose of them properly.

That all has to have happened five or so years ago and despite how long they were all going to last, I have been through a few.  Perhaps conscience has persuaded me to follow that advice but every time one gave up on me the mercury factor kicked in and I resisted the urge to chuck it in the bin.  As a result, I now have quite a collection of the things. 

I rang Lewisham council to ask what I should do with them recently and was told that the only way to dispose of them is to take them to the Landmann way Recycling Centre in New Cross. I remember asking if that is the only place available to us Lewisham residents and it was confirmed. 

So, in order to dispose of a light bulb or two, we are expected to make the exodus to New Cross from wherever we live in the borough which, if you do not have a car could take as much as an hour each way from the other side of the borough. They will not accept any item from you unless you have proof of ID with you and the alternative is to keep a collection of these potentially harmful items in your home until you have sufficient to make the journey vaguely cost effective.  

Is this not another situation which begs the question, ‘What do we pay our council tax for?’

DC, Downham

DC offers a little information on how to dispose of them, how to clean up a broken bulb, what ID is needed to use the Lewisham recycling centre, and which are the best light bulbs to buy these days…

(►►►)   (►►►)     (►►►)    (►►►)