Scrap energy-saving lamps pose a threat

Following the nation's rapid economic development, the production of e-waste has been growing at an alarming speed in China over recent years. According to the 2010 United Nations Environment Program Report, China has become the world's second largest producer of e-waste, with the annual production of e-waste exceeding 2.3 million tons, following closely behind the United States whose annual production of e-waste currently stands at 3 million tons, the Economic Information Daily reported on Oct. 29.

By the year 2020, China's number of scrap computers is expected to double or quadruple and that of scrap mobile phones is set to multiply by seven times, the newspaper said, while stressing that e-waste pollutes the environment and damages people's health to varying degrees during the process of recycling and utilizing.

Following scrap batteries, old energy-saving lamps are called the second largest consumer waste by experts as they contain toxic elements like mercury and lead. Comparatively, China's disposal system of energy-saving lamps recycling is still immature and therefore the risk of contamination cannot be ignored.

Wu Defeng, director of the energy saving office in Changsha, Hunan Province, said that the promotion of energy-saving lamps moves at a swift pace, with the number of so-called high-efficiency lighting energy-saving lamps in the province rising up to 3.6 million between 2008 and 2011.

Wu said that an energy-saving lamp can save up to 80 percent of energy compared to an ordinary incandescent one. Hunan Province now saves a total 179 million kWh in energy annually thanks to the promotion of energy saving lamps, which help reduce the emission of 171,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

According to the Green Lighting program issued by the State Council in 2007, the country has promoted 150 million of these high-efficiency lighting energy-saving lamps nationwide by way of financial subsidies, annually saving 29 billion kWh and reducing the emission of 29 million tons of carbon dioxide and 290,000 tons of sulfur dioxide.

The great variety of energy-saving lamps can be found throughout Wal-Mart and Carrefour supermarkets in Changsha and Beijing. Each product has the guide clarifying the toxic elements which tubes, lamp holders and ballasts contain, attached to it. However, some products might surpass the set standards for lead or mercury, the newspaper reported.

"Each old energy-saving lamp contains an average of 0.5 milligram mercury, but that's enough to pollute 180 tons of water and surrounding soil once it seeps into the ground," said the energy saving office in Changsha. Besides, a broken lamp can make the mercury content in the surrounding air far exceed the set standards and can even cause damage to the human nervous system .

Following the gradual decrease of incandescent lamps, the consumption of energy-saving lamps has exceeded 1 billion annually in China. Although their technology has progressed in recent years, many products still cannot meet the set standards for mercury and lead content.

Ren Jinmin, professor with Renmin University of China, said that the channel of recycling energy-saving lamps is the most protruding issue of e-waste in China today.

The recycling of old energy-saving lamps is a difficult one in China. "We have to put foam rubber cushions inside the collection boxes of the recycled energy-saving lamps, and apply extreme caution during transportation. It is such an unprofitable business," said the boss of a Beijing lamp shop.

Zhou Jing, secretary of the Changsha recycling resources association, provided information that the recycling rate of old energy-saving lamps in Japan, Europe, America and Taiwan can reach over 80 percent. "One Taiwanese company has even formed a complete system of manufacturing, sales and recycling, with the recycling rates of mercury, fluorescent power, and glass reaching 100 percent, 60 percent and 30 percent respectively," Zhou said.

To take big lead in this area, experts suggest China start with three aspects: further strengthen public awareness of the importance of recycled energy; clarify the responsibilities of those manufacturers, advertising agencies and sellers; and to make more investments in the building of recycling centers and development of recycling technology.