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.