There's always something.

Not thinking things all the way through is what got us here in the first place. We have to proceed using wisdom. While it's better than what we had there is a problem with the curlies (the light bulbs). Seems to me that the curlies were marketed to us without telling us the details (or did I just miss the small print).

This website (if you can find the section) mentions how to safely clean up a broken curlie so that the mercury isn't a problem and then take the broken parts to the local cfl disposal site. Well now. Where would that be? Did you know all this? Did you even know this about the long fluorescent tubes that have been around so long? All I heard about the curlies was "buy this. It's good for the environment." Well . . . some details were left out of that little selling sound bite.

In a nutshell on the environmental defense website dave writes
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One worry about the widespread use of CFLs (COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS)
is that they contain small amounts of mercury but because CFLs use less energy than their incandescent counterparts, compact fluorescents are responsible for less mercury contamination than the incandescent bulbs they replaced, What do you mean you ask? I'm glad you asked. The highest source of mercury in America's air and water results from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, from utilities that supply electricity; incandescents burn way more energy, so, on a macro level, require much more energy to be produced. When that energy comes from fossil fuels, like coal it causes more mercury to be released into the environment.
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So yeah, it's good for the environment. But watch those broken curlies. And eating that can of tuna, while you're watching for mercury. Must be all the improperly disposed fluorescent tubes over the years. Nah. It's the coal burning power plants.

And if you break a fluorescent . . . follow these tips to play it safe

1) Open nearby windows to disperse any vapor that may escape.

2) Wipe the area with a damp, disposable paper towel to pick up all glass fragments. Do not use a vacuum, broom or your hands.

3) Place all fragments in a sealed plastic bag and take to the nearest CFL recycling center.

This is what IL EPA posts.

So in the long run curlies help the environment until something better comes along. You can teach your children to come up with something better. (I've heard LEDs are next) I'm too busy negotiating the lifestyle transition that is required to have a minimum environmental standard for survival of the children 7 generations from now.