Shining with toxic light (2)

Paved with good intentions

The light provided by a 20-watt energy-efficient bulb is the same as a 100-watt incandescent bulb, though the energy-efficient bulbs last for 8,000 to 10,000 hours while the incandescent options last a mere 1,000 hours.

An incandescent bulb costs just 1 to 3 yuan ($0.48), far below the price of the more energy-efficient option, which is 10 to 40 yuan, though over the long run the costs become similar, given differences in shelf life and power consumption.

The government subsidies proved to be the key difference, spurring demand. However, the question still remains as to how they will be dealt with.

Zhao said bulb producers should be the ones to establish recovery mechanisms as they have the relevant expertise. "Producers should extend their services and responsibilities beyond manufacturing products."

Zhang Lin, the chairman of a company that sells energy-efficient machinery lubrication products in Shenzhen disagreed, saying that bulb manufacturing enterprises would see their costs increase and few would do this.

"Without any profit, why would a company do it? A subsidy doled out by the government might help encourage them, or no one will even consider it," Zhang said.