Compact Fluorescent Lamp Recycling and Disposal (CFL)

Home lighting products used properly can make a big difference in the environment and your home. To better understand how specifically light bulbs can make a difference home, take a look at this information:

Recycling and properly disposing of compact fluorescent lamps (aka compact fluorescent lamp recycling) may not seem important but, it can negatively impact our environment. CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs often break when thrown in the dumpster, trash or compacter or when they end up in the landfill or incinerator. Recycling prevents the release of mercury into our environment. Recycling also allows the reuse of the glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled. (courtesy of the americanlightingassoc.com)

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Recycling and Disposal 

To recycle your used CFLs, please visit Where You Live or Earth911.org for detailed recycling info. For more information specific to your area, consult your state or provincial environmental regulatory agency.

If your local environmental regulatory agency offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the fluorescent light bulb 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 fluorescent light bulb or any other mercury-containing product to an incinerator.

What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks?

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:

1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
2. Carefully scoop up the fragments, powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag.
– Use disposable rubber gloves, if available (i.e., do not use bare hands). Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag.
– Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
3. 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. Note: Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken to a local recycling center.
4. 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 for normal disposal.

If you need any assistance with finding a light bulb replacement or have any questions regarding our Fluorescent and CFL bulb offerings, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Learn more about compact fluorescent light bulbs from ENERGY STAR