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 As a convenient, affordable way to conserve energy and lower electricity bills, compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) have gained increasing popularity. That’s no surprise, considering that they consume approximately 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent ones.
Unlike incandescents, which create light by running electricity across a wire filament, CFLs send electricity through a tube containing argon and a small amount of mercury vapor. Because they contain mercury, when burnt out or accidentally broken, CFL bulbs must be properly handled and disposed of.
The Environmental Protection Agency suggests the following:
For Hard or Carpeted Surfaces
- Empty the room. Ask people to leave and take pets elsewhere, while carefully avoiding the breakage.
- Ventilate the area. Open windows and leave them open for at least 15 minutes. Turn off any central air-conditioning or heating systems.
- Wear protective clothing such as gloves, safety glasses, coveralls and a dust mask, depending on the size of the spill and number of bulbs broken.
- Use stiff paper or cardboard to scoop up the glass pieces and powder. For carpeted surfaces, carefully pick up pieces while wearing gloves.
- Place contents in a secure glass jar with a metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
- To remove remaining fragments and powder, use a disposable broom and dustpan, a commercial mercury spill kit, or simply blot the area with wide adhesive tape, such as duct tape.
- Wipe the area with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Add these to the glass jar or sealed plastic bag.
- If vacuuming is absolutely necessary, do so. For large mercury spills, however, vacuuming is hazardous because it can spread the mercury into the air and increase exposure. For small spills, the risk is minimal. After vacuuming, remove the vacuum bag and place it in a sealed plastic bag or glass jar for disposal (see Disposal of Cleanup Materials below).
For Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials
Any clothing or bedding materials that come into direct contact with the broken glass or powder from a CFL should be thrown away. Do not wash contaminated clothing or bedding, as the mercury fragments might contaminate the machine and pollute the sewage system. Clothing that was exposed but did not come into direct contact with the glass or powder, such as that worn during the cleanup, can be washed. Shoes that touched the glass or powder can be wiped with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the used towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal (see Disposal of Cleanup Materials below).
Disposal of Cleanup Materials
Place all cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area, then immediately wash your hands. Contact your local sanitation department or the Environmental Protection Agency to find out about the rules and facilities for CFL recycling in your area.
Future Maintenance of the Spill Site
During the next several times you vacuum, turn off any central-air systems and open a window before you begin. After vacuuming is complete, keep the central-air system off and the window open for at least 15 minutes.
Recycling Your Intact CFLs
Even used, intact CFLs can release elemental mercury when dumped in regular landfills. Thankfully, as the EPA describes, CFLs are composed of completely recyclable materials:
“Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled. The metal end caps, glass tubing, mercury and phosphor powder can all be separated and reused. Recyclers often sell the metallic portions as scrap metal. The recycled glass can be remanufactured into other glass products. The mercury can be recycled into new fluorescent light bulbs and other mercury-containing devices.”
Some states require households to recycle CFLs. Contact your state environmental protection agency or visit Earth911.org to find nearby household hazardous-waste collection and recycling programs.
Using Normal Garbage Pickup
If your local authority offers no other disposal option besides normal garbage pickup, wrap the bulb in two plastic bags and seal them before putting it in the trash container. If your waste agency incinerates its garbage, try to widen your search for a recycler, as incineration releases mercury and other toxins into the air.
While these procedures may discourage some from purchasing CFLs, the danger of mercury exposure only comes when a bulb is broken (an unlikely event in most households). Otherwise, the bulb’s efficiency makes it an excellent selection for homes, particularly those without ecological energy sources like wind or solar power.
Additional resources:
Are Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs Dangerous?
The Truth About CFLs: Is the Toxic Mercury They Contain Safe for the Environment?
Choosing Energy-Efficient Lighting: CFLs, LEDs and Solar
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