CEA plans system to control CFL pollution
by Dhaneshi Yatawara
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) jointly with the Sri Lankan
business community, plans to set up a system to control the pollution
caused by used compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) in the environment. To
control this hazardous situation, the CEA has requested CFL importers
and suppliers to establish a system where customers can return the used
items without dumping them in the environment.
A discussion is in progress between the CEA and the importers of CFL
bulbs as there is an increasing demand for these lamps among the public.
"Chemicals inside the CFLs, particularly mercury, which is a heavy
metal, permanently damages the environment if these bulbs are dumped to
the environment. On the other hand, these lamps help consumers cut down
electricity bills as well as lower the rate of electricity usage in the
country," Chairman of the CEA Wimal Rubasinghe said.
During the discussion, some businessmen have told the CEA that they
accept used lamps from customers and after carefully removing the
mercury inside the lamps, send them back to manufacturers. "If others
can adopt such measures, it will avoid an environmental disaster,"
Rubasinghe said.
The e-waste management system introduced by the CEA operates all over
the country; it plans to operate a similar program for the proper
disposal of CFLs after use, according to Rubasinghe.
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