CFLs and mercury

CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) contain a small amount of mercury - approximately 5 milligrams - sealed within the glass tubing. Mercury is a critical component to CFLs. No mercury is released when the lamps are intact or in use. If disposed of properly, mercury in CFLs shouldn't be a safety hazard.

Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines, should a CFL break:

1. Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room
   
   
   • Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
   • Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
   • Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more before cleaning up.
2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
   
   
   • Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (a canning jar will work nicely) or in a sealed plastic bag.
   • Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Place the duct tape in the jar, too.
   • Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.
   • Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken lamp on hard surfaces.
3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug
   
   
   • Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid or in a sealed plastic bag.
   • Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
   • If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the lamp was broken.
   • Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.
   
   
   • If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the lamp that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be discarded. Do not wash the clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
   • You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you happened to be wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken lamp.
   • If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the lamp, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.
5. Disposal of Clean-up Materials
   
   
   • Immediately place all cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
   • Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
   • Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing lamps be taken to a local recycling center.
6. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Ventilate the Room During and After Vacuuming
   
   
   • The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to vacuuming.
   • Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.
7. Disposal of used CFLs
   
   
   • Contact your local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options. Some stores take back used CFLs, in addition to batteries and other potentially toxic household items.
   • If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the lamp in two plastic bags and put it into a garbage bin outside, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. You should not dispose of CFLs in an incinerator.