How To Dispose Of A Cfl Light Bulb Or Clean Up A Broken One || The Tranquil Parent

How to dispose of a CFL light bulb (or clean up a broken one)

By Jeremiah greener

September 04, 2008

How to dispose of a CFL light bulb (or clean up a broken one)

Compact fluorescent lighting in the Jame Mosque, Yzad. Photo by Paul Keller, shared via Flickr.

CFL bulbs contain mercury gas, which are safely contained in an intact bulb but can escape if the bulb breaks - either in your home or in a landfill. Many communities now have CFL recycling programs, and you can find one using the EPA's directory. But if a CFL bulb breaks in your home, there are a few precautions you should take to make sure you aren't exposed.

Open windows and leave the room for fifteen minutes or more. This helps ensure that mercury vapors can escape and you won't inhale them. Make sure children or pets can't get into the room during this time.

Wearing disposable gloves, use a piece of cardboard to scoop up the powder and glass into a plastic bag.

Use a wet paper towel or rag you don't mind disposing of to wipe down the area. Place them in the bag.

Tie the bag shut and wrap in a second bag, closing it securely as well.

Wash your hands.

Take the broken bulb to a recycling facility that accepts them. Call ahead if you are unsure, as some facilities will only accept intact bulbs.

Categories: green living, household supplies

1. subu [9/05/08]

great tips! i always forget that you have to dispose of them differently.

2. Katy Downey [9/05/08]

This is great - thanks! But what I want to know now is....what do you do with all of the old incandescent bulbs? I have a bag of them sitting in my closet now.

3. adrienne [9/05/08]

Ack! I’ve been throwing these in the trash for years.

I need to find a better way to get rid of them.

4. Leigh [9/05/08]

I think that Home Depot and Ace Hardware both accept dead CFLs. But I’m not 100% sure on that. You could always start by calling them and seeing if that is true in your community, of course.

5. Joshua [9/06/08]

I’m hoping these guys can get their mercury-free lightbulb off the ground:
http://www.vu1.com/default.htm