Question: Light Bulbs: Shining a Light on Bulb Recycling We've received several questions about recycling light bulbs, ranging from regular incandescents to compact fluorescents (CFLs). First off, recycling incandescent bulbs is not on the priority list, because they don't contain toxic materials and don't offer much in the way of recoverable resources. It is important to recycle the far more energy-efficient CFLs. Home Depot Canada is aiming to recycle 1.5 million bulbs by 2011 and says all components from the bulbs will be reused in creating a host of new products, including glass bottles and jars, baseball bats, and products for the lighting industry. Lasting six to 10 times longer than the average incandescent bulb and using up to 75 percent less electricity, CFLs save on power consumption and cut your electricity bill. When properly recycled, CFLs are definitely your best bet for the environment-and your pocketbook.
a. Relative to incandescents, what is the external benefit associated with CFLs?
b. Draw a graph to illustrate and explain why the market for CFLs is inefficient.