CFLs in the garbage can?! Oh no!

CFL Disposal

Even though CFLs last five to eight times longer than old incandescent bulbs, they will eventually stop working and need to be disposed of. So just toss them in the bin, right? No!


CFLs contain very small amounts of mercury, which is bad for our soil and water, so proper disposal helps keep us safe and healthy. CFLs also contain many useful resources that can actually be reused, reducing long-term costs and environmental impacts. So how do we dispose of them? 

If you have a dead bulb that is still whole, you have a few options:
1. -        Household hazardous waste facility: for Boulder County residents. They are open for drop off from 8:30- 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. More information on the center can be found here. 
2. -        Home Depot: this major retailer has CFL recycling bins available for residents to drop off bulbs during store hours. Easy way to make sure they’re taken care of properly!


What if my CFL is broken?


Because of the small amount of mercury within a CFL, it’s good to follow clean-up guidelines from the US Environmental Protection Agency. A spill of this size is not likely to hurt you or your family, and there is no need to panic. 

Just follow the steps below: 

Before Cleanup

• Have people and pets leave the room.
• Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment. 
• Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.
• Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb: 
• stiff paper or cardboard;
• sticky tape;
• damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces); and
• a glass jar with a metal lid or a sealable plastic bag.

During Cleanup

• DO NOT VACUUM.  Vacuuming is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken.  Vacuuming could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor.
• Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
• Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.

After Cleanup

• Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of.  Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors. 
• Next, check with your local government about disposal requirements in your area, because some localities require fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center. If there is no such requirement in your area, you can dispose of the materials with your household trash.
• If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.

Why is it important to clean up a broken CFL properly?

CFLs and other fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. When a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home, some of this mercury is released as mercury vapor. To minimize exposure to mercury vapor, EPA recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described on this page. 

What if I can't follow all the recommended steps? or I cleaned up a CFL but didn't do it properly?

Don't be alarmed; these steps are only precautions that reflect best practices for cleaning up a broken CFL. Keep in mind that CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury -- less than 1/100th of the amount in a mercury thermometer. 

However, if you are concerned about the risk to your health from a potential exposure to mercury,  consult your physician.

Below are sources that you should check out yourself if you have any more questions. 
Make the switch, make a change, for you, and for the planet. 


sources:
Scientific American
Tree Hugger
EnergyStar


written by Roxanna Shohadaee