Orange Electric launches environmentally friendly CFL Bulb

Orange Electric, the 100% Sri Lankan owned electrical accessories manufacturing giant, has launched a special promotion for CFL bulbs while ensuring the eco-friendly disposal of old CFL bulbs which can cause environmental and health hazards.

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) bulbs contain mercury, a hazardous substance that needs to be disposed of properly and safely, without being exposed to the environment. Mercury components of CFL bulbs can contaminate air, soil and groundwater, placing public health at risk. The Orange promotion, while encouraging consumers to buy CFL bulbs, also takes care of the safe disposal of old CFL bulbs.

The promotion, titled 'CFL GANU DENU (Give one - take one): win hundred and one'; allows consumers to be a part of a raffle draw by sending the top flap of the bulb box, whenever they buy an Orange CFL bulb.

At the same time, when they hand over an old CFL bulb to the agent, regardless of its brand, they get a coupon, which qualifies them for the raffle draw when attached to the top flap of a bulb box.

The 'Give one -take one' part of the promotion which offers attractive prizes.

"The purpose of collecting old CFL bulbs is to recycle them. Orange is the only Sri Lankan Company, which has a CFL recycle plant - a fact, which we are proud of. In fact it is the only CFL recycling plant in South Asia. All the old CFL bulbs will be sent to the recycling plant in Pitipana where they will be put into a special MRT machine. The MRT machines can separate glass and mercury components of the CFL bulb. Glass can of course be recycled. But non recyclable components such as mercury are sent to a special canister which is sealed and not exposed to the environment," said Ameen Gani, Assistant General Manager (Marketing) of Orange.

According to Ameen, the sealed canisters that contain mercury are sent to Germany for disposal. "Sri Lanka does not have facilities to dispose of mercury. The only option is to send them to Germany for disposal. They have the technology to dispose mercury without causing any sort of environmental damage" he added.

He said that if environmental hazards posed by mercury components of CFL bulbs can be looked after; it is a great way of reducing electricity bills. Since there is public awareness and interest about preserving electricity, CFL remains a very viable option. "While promoting CFL bulbs, we need to look into their adverse impacts too. That is why we initiated this project. This promotion has an extremely valid CSR aspect.