Recycling
at  Home
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) contain a small
amount of mercury, about 3-4 milligrams each,
sealed within the glass tubing. As with many
household items such as paints, cleaners, and
pesticides, CFLs should be handled properly and
disposed of according to state requirements. EPA
encourages consumers to recycle their spent CFLs
to protect human health and avoid unsafe releases
to the environment.

Increasingly, communities, neighborhoods, and
even some retailers are offering CFL collection
opportunities. For more details, including local
recycling locations and contact information for
recycling in your area, visit www.earth911.com or
"Where You
State

Requirements
Requirements for CFL recycling vary by state.
Some states require recycling mercury-containing
light bulbs after they burn out. For more
information about state-specific requirements,
please contact your state or local environmental
regulatory agency.
Actions You Can Take to

Prevent Broken Compact

Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Fluorescent bulbs are made of glass and can break
if dropped or roughly handled. To avoid breaking a
bulb, follow these general practices:

•  Always switch off and allow a working CFL bulb
  to cool before handling.
•  Always handle CFL bulbs carefully to avoid
  breakage.
  • If possible, screw/unscrew the CFL by holding
   the plastic or ceramic base, not the glass
   tubing.
  • Gently screw in the CFL until snug. Do not
   over-tighten.
  • Never forcefully twist the glass tubing.
•  Do not install CFLs in table lamps and floor
  lamps that can be easily knocked over, in
  unprotected light fixtures, or in lamps that are
  incompatible with the spiral or folded shape of
  many CFLs.
•  Do not use CFL bulbs in locations where they
  can easily be broken, such as play spaces.
•  Use CFL bulbs that have a glass or plastic
  cover over the spiral or folded glass tube, if
  available. These types of bulbs look more like
  incandescent bulbs and may be more durable if
  dropped.
•  Consider using a  drop cloth (e.g., plastic sheet or
  beach towel) when changing a fluorescent light
  bulb in case a breakage should occur. The drop
  cloth will help prevent mercury contamination
  of nearby surfaces and can be bundled with the
  bulb debris for disposal.
Don't  be  left
 in   the  dark.
Safely clean  up  and
     recycle CFLs.
                                                                                         ©EPA
                                                                                            United States
                                                                                            Environmental Protec
                                                                                            Agency
                                                                                            EPA530-M1-001

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Quick  Guide  to
Cleaning  Up  a
Broken  CFL
The most important steps to reduce exposure to
mercury vapor from a broken bulb are:
Before cleanup
•  Have people and pets leave the room.
•  Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a
  window or door to the outdoor environment.
  Shut off the central forced air heating/air
  conditioning (H&AC) system, if you have one.
  Collect materials (stiff paper/cardboard, sticky
  tape, damp paper towels/wet wipes) needed to
  clean up broken bulb.
During cleanup
  Be thorough in collecting broken glass and
  visible powder.
  Place cleanup materials in a scalable container
  (plastic bag or glass jar).
After cleanup
•  Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup
  materials outdoors in a trash container or
  protected area until materials can be disposed
  of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or
  cleanup materials indoors.
•  Not all recycling centers may accept broken
  CFLs and some states may have prohibitions on
  disposal of debris. Check with your local and/or
  state household hazardous waste authority for
  disposal requirements in your area.
•  For several hours, continue to air out the room
  where the bulb was broken and leave
  the H&AC system shut off.

For more detailed guidance on cleaning up and
safely disposing of a broken CFL,
please visit: www.epa.gov/cflcleanup.

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