CFLs contain mercury

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 5 milligrams which equates to about the tip of a ballpoint pen. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. It would take 100 CFLs to equal that amount.

Mercury currently is an essential component of CFLs. It allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use. Many manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce mercury used in their fluorescent lighting products. In fact, the average amount of mercury in a CFL is anticipated to continue to drop.

Precautions

CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket.

Recycling CFLs

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. The EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.

If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. CFLs should not be disposed of in an incinerator.

Broken Bulbs

Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.

If a fluorescent bulb breaks on a hard surface:

Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces. Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag.  Use disposable rubber gloves, if available; do not use bare hands. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag. Place all cleanup materials in a second sealed plastic bag. Place the first bag in a second sealed plastic bag and put it in the outdoor trash container or in another outdoor protected area for the next normal trash disposal. Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.

If a fluorescent bulb breaks on a rug or carpet:

First, remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner, following the steps above. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.

If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag or vacuum debris in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.

Mercury

Mercury is an element (Hg on the periodic table) found naturally in the environment. Mercury emissions in the air can come from both natural and man-made sources. Coal-fired power plants are the largest man-made source because mercury that naturally exists in coal is released into the air when coal is burned to make electricity. Coal-fired power generation accounts for roughly 40% of the mercury emissions in the U.S. The EPA is implementing policies to reduce airborne mercury emissions. Under regulations that the EPA issued in 2005, mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants will drop by nearly 70% by 2018. The use of CFLs reduces power demand, which helps reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars. Also ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a warranty. If the bulb has failed within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.

Reference

(2010) The ENERGY STAR website