GreenYour.com

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) often contain a trace amount of mercury (about the size of a ball-point pen), but if you recycle your used bulbs, that mercury will be kept out of the environment. And don't panic if you break a CFL! We've got tips on how to clean-up if you've got a broken bulb.

How to recycle CFL bulbs

Don't throw CFLs away in your household garbage if you can find a better option. The small amount of mercury found in CFLs means you should recycle these bulbs whenever possible (and it's becoming easier all of the time). Here are some ideas for how to properly dispose of your spent bulbs:

• Several big box stores now offer CFL recycling programs.
  • You can crop off unbroken CFLs at Home Depot stores in the US (hand them to the returns employee) and Canada (place them in designated bin).
  • IKEA stores take back used CFLs-any brand!
  • Wal-Mart has also periodically offered "CFL Recycling Days" (check their site for current events).
• Earth 911 lists many local CFL recycling programs.
• You can also check directly with your local waste management agency for recycling options and disposal guidelines in your community. Additional information is available at lamprecycle.org.
• ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a two-year warranty. If the bulb fails within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.

If your local waste management agency offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the CFL in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in the trash. If your waste agency incinerates its garbage, you should search a wider geographic area for proper disposal options. Never send a CFL or other mercury-containing product to an incinerator.

What to do if a CFL bulb breaks

Because there is such a small amount of mercury in CFLs, your greatest risk if a bulb breaks is getting cut from glass shards. Research indicates that there is no immediate health risk to you or your family should a bulb break and it’s cleaned up properly. You can minimize any risks by following these proper clean-up and disposal guidelines:

• Sweep up all of the glass fragments and fine particles.
• Place broken pieces in a sealed plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up any stray shards of glass or fine particles. Put the used towel in the plastic bag as well.
• If weather permits, open windows to allow the room to ventilate.

Recycling CFL bulbs helps you go green because...

• It ensures the small amount of mercury found in these bulbs is safely handled.

Compact fluorescent bulbs do contain a small amount (5 mg or less) of mercury, but according to ENERGY STAR, CFLs are safe to use in the home. The mercury they do contain is sealed within the glass tubing and is much less compared to other sources of the toxin. By comparison, traditional thermometers contain 500 milligrams of mercury—more than 100 times the amount in one CFL.[1] Dental fillings often content 60-200 time more mercury than a CFL, and watch batteries five times more.[2]

Despite the small amount of mercury contained in CFLs, the environmental impact of these bulbs is far less than incandescents. This is especially true since CFLs avoid the mercury-laden coal-fired power plant emissions by working more efficiently. In fact, Noah Horowitz of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) explains that "the energy savings delivered through the use of CFLs will actually reduce more mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants than is added through manufacture of the bulbs."[3]

Coal power plants are the single largest source of mercury emissions into the environment. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the mercury released from powering an incandescent bulb from a coal plant for five years exceeds the sum of the mercury released by powering a CFL for the same period and the mercury contained in the lamp.[4]

Proper disposal of CFLs ensures the mercury is safely contained in order to prevent it from contaminating soil and groundwater. Public interest in this issue has spurred many companies on to develop consumer-friendly recycling programs.

Glossary

• mercury: Found in many CFL bulbs, mercury can accumulate in tissue and may cause brain and kidney damage, especially in children.

External links

• ENERGY STAR - Mercury Fact Sheet
• National Public Radio - Do Fluorescent Bulbs Light the Way to the Future?