Blue Ridge Eco Shop

Disposing of Compact Florescent Light Bulbs

Posted by Paige Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:09:00 GMT

It is surprising to me that many people are not aware that CFLs contain Mercury. CFLs contain a small amount of Mercury gas. The levels of Mercury differ across the Brands, so be sure you know what you are buying. When the CFL is lit, it is actually the gas that illuminates them. The Mercury does not seep out of the bulb, so there are no concerns with Mercury being in the air when the bulbs are lit.

Mercury is hazardous and thus the CFL bulbs need to be disposed of properly. Burned out bulbs should be recycled, and they shouldn’t be thrown in your recycling bin or trash! There is only one place in Charlottesville, that I am aware of, that recycles and disposes the used bulbs, the McIntire Road Recycling Center (http://avenue.org/rswa/mcintire.htm). The Ivy Creak Landfill no longer excepts them and encourages the community to take the bulbs to McIntire which is open throughout the week.

What if my CFL bulb shatters or has a crack in it and won’t light?

This is a great question. As I mentioned above, these bulbs contain Mercury. If the glass is compromised either by a crack or is shattered, you can become exposed to the Mercury. The EPA (www.EPA.gov) says that if a CFL breaks, open windows and/or doors and leave the room for 15 minutes. This allows the gas to disseminate and leave the area. It is important not to inhale the vapors and to get away from the spill. After 15-20 minutes, pick up the glass and wipe down the exposed areas. Be sure to wash your hands afterwards! The bulb can then be disposed of like a non-CFL light bulb since the gas is no longer inside the bulb. The EPA site recommends avoiding vacuuming the glass if possible.

CFLs are highly energy efficient and are a great money and electricity saver, but we all need to be aware of what is contained inside of them. It is important to dispose of them properly so that the gases inside the bulbs do not get into our ground water and waste systems. With McIntire Road Recycling Center now accepting the bulbs, there really isn’t any easier way to dispose of them properly!