Indeed fluorescent tubes do contain mercury, and I won’t dismiss the issue as trivial, but it needs to be put in perspective.

Coal-burning power plants are the largest contributor to mercury emissions. In the U.S., they are responsible for about a third of the mercury released. Since coal accounts for less than half of U.S. electricity generation and about 90 percent of South Africa’s electricity generation, it’s safe to say that more than half of all mercury released in South Africa comes from Eskom.

Therefore, it is easy to understand why many independent experts say that CFLs reduce more mercury over their lifetime than their disposal will contribute. For examples, you could look at http://www.nwcurrent.com/efficiency/5266341.html, http://www.nrdc.org/onearth/05spr/asknrdc.asp or http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/home_journal_news/4217864.html
For an expert’s view on the health issues of having CFLs with mercury in your home, read http://environmentaldefenseblogs.org/climate411/2007/07/31/cfl_mercury-2/

The web page you have read is not by an independent expert, but by someone in the business of selling globes that compete with CFLs. I believe that much of his information is inaccurate.

That said, mercury is a serious poison and we should all try to reduce our contribution to mercury pollution in any way we can. Batteries are a very large source of mercury, so you should only buy watch batteries and alkaline batteries that are mercury free. (Recyclable batteries are even better, of course)

In buying CFLs the best recommendation is to stick to major international brands such as Osram, GE and Philips. They have to comply with EU standards that allow no more than 5 mg of mercury in a globe. Osram CFL’s have 3.5 mg according to their technical marketing manager in South Africa, Wally Wilmans. Cheaper brands may have more.

If a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home, don’t get out the vacuum cleaner, read this: http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#disposal. There is no way to recycle CFLs in South Africa currently, but Eskom has a working group tasked with this issue. CFLs last so long that before the bulb you buy today burns out, even Eskom may have come up with a plan.