Most CFL types were produced to replace incandescent lamps, and these are noted to have efficient life spans, and also feature a considerably reduced light output. What s The Average Lifespan of a Typical CFL Lamp? According to lighting experts, the average lifespan of a CFL unit is from 8 to 15 times that of an incandescent lamp. While most of us shrug our shoulders in utter helplessness, the truth is that we can actually do something to reverse the tide of environmental degradation, and we can start by doing some simple initiatives right in our own backyards. Recycling is one thing we could easily do. Here are some basic facts about recycling, and why we need to reduce, reuse and recycle. How To Recycle Cardboard Before you contact your local recycling facility, first tear or break down all the cardboard boxes you have at home, until they are flat in a stack. You may also need to break cardboard down, depending on your town or city s recycling program, so that it easily fits in a brown paper bag. The tin cans which often accumulate in your kitchen can also be collected and crushed, and sent to a recycling facility. Be Earth-Friendly When Going Shopping When shopping or going to the grocery, always bring a cloth bag, and avoid using plastic shopping bags, because these are very hard to recycle. Hazardous or toxic wastes on the other hand, are waste materials that may cause death, serious injury and other serious health risks to man and other living creatures. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other state departments manage and oversee the laws which regulate the disposal of hazardous wastes. While paper has been a very important aspect of our lives, the careless and wasteful use of it can lead to a mounting garbage problem. The production of paper also is costly, and during these times where we hear a lot of horror stories regarding environmental degradation and pollution, the quest to save our forests requires that we lessen our consumption of paper and other wood by-products.