Energy Saving light bulbs may be more economical with regard to the usage of energy in buildings but to what cost of peoples health?

As I understand it the Energy Saving Light Bulbs contain Mercury, Phosphorus. If we are to use these bulbs what is the Government going to do about the recycling of them, as Mercury is a Neurotoxin.
If one breaks what are we the public supposed to do with them?

As quoted byhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/129na1.pdf
Exposure to high levels of mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys and developing foetus.
Combustion of coal for electric power generation is the largest source of atmospheric mercury pollution. Switching
from standard incandescent bulbs to energy-saving CFLs can reduce energy demand from such power plants and
consequently lead to a reduction in mercury emissions. However, CFLs themselves contain small amounts of
mercury that can be emitted when they break.

There is a suggestion that people should take them back to where they bought the Compact Lightbulb, but then this would be a health risk...... and what would the large Supermarkets do with them then, or the little Ironmonger for that matter.

Someone in Brussels hasn't thought about this very well have they!!

The Government needs to get onto this problem and fast I think.
What about you?
kcguy693... thank you for your comment, but the link you gave me to www.earth911.com does not cover the UK

As far as I know there are no places to take the bulbs, other than the local tip.Some people are not able to get to the local tip! Also we are not allowed to put glass into our rubbish bins. All glass has to go to a recycling bin which can be found in Supermarket car parks.

Most of the replies are getting very technical..... my point was if someone has a duff CFL bulb, or a broken one.... are we supposed to drive miles with one little bulb....(incidently also increasing the carbon footprint in order to get rid of it.

Today we are told on the news that we are all going to have to buy energy saving light bulbs, as dictated by the EU in Brussels.

OK, so they do save money by lasting longer, but the ones I have in my house are a lot less bright than the normal bulbs, also they take quite a while to actually come on.

Now my big gripe is, why is it that all of us in our homes be economising with electricity when shops have their spotlights on in their windows all night, advertising signs are on 24/7 and offices and government buildings are all lit up when no one's working in them, shops have doors wide open in the winter letting all the heat out,and air con in summer with doors open.

Yes I understand that the fuels from Mother Earth will not last forever, and we have to do something about the situation of finding alternative methods of generating electricity in order that generations to come will be able to benefit.Shouldn't people in position show the way by setting a good example to us all?

I have replaced my old light bulbs with energy saving light bulbs over the last few months. The only ones i havent replaced are the bathroom, which i currently use 4 reflector spotlights at 40W each and the living room using 3 candle bulbs at 40W each. If i replace these the costs of similar style energy efficient bulbs are £2.99 each from WIlkinsons thus will cost me £9 for living room and £12 for bathroom. Will the electricity saved really make enough difference to be worth spending £21 on bulbs?

we have been encouraged to use these new energy saving light bulbs by our local council ,fair enough we get them free but they last less time normal ones and sometimes they work sometimes they don't one day there dull the next there bright help me out does anyone eles have this problem?and what can i do to sort the problem
thanks folks