The Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulb contains less Mercury (about 5 mg.) than the amount emmitted into the atmosphere (about 10 mg.) from coal fired generating plants just to power the bulb.
In fact, for each incandescent bulb you don't replace with a CFL, you're putting 13.6 mg. of mercury straight into the air. Using CFL's dramatically reduces mercury emissions at the power plant. Mercury pollution at the coal fired power plant is worse than mercury in lightbulbs, because power plant mercury goes straight into the air where it's impossible to recycle. All unbroken CFL's can be taken to your local Home Depot or Ikea stores for proper recycling.
