If you’ve been using CFL bulbs in your ceiling lights and table lamps for awhile, you’ve may have actually had a few burn out by now, or even had one break. While they’re great for saving energy, these environmentally-friendly light bulbs do contain small amounts of mercury, so it is important to recycle them or clean up breaks properly.

Recycling CFL Bulbs

Some stores, including Home Depot and Ikea will take back your used CFL bulbs for free, and then recycle them. Light Bulb Recycling offers a paid by-mail service that will send you a recycling kit for CFL bulbs.  Also,  Earth 911 offers a free recycling search engine that will direct you to CFL recycling resources in your area.

How to Clean Up a Broken CFL Bulb

So, let’s just suppose you’re up on a step stool changing a light bulb in your ceiling fan, and before you know it, you drop a CFL bulb and it shatters on the floor.  What should you do? Here are some steps for safe CFL disposal from the EPA:

• Air out the room by opening windows and doors. Turn off your furnace or air conditioner if they are running, and have everyone leave the room for 15 minutes.
• Using stiff cardboard, carefully scoop up any broken glass.
• Use duct tape to pick up any remaining glass shards or powder.
• Avoid using a vacuum cleaner or broom if at all possible.  If use of a vacuum cleaner is unavoidable, dispose of the vacuum bag or clean out the canister immediately after cleaning the break area.
• Use a sealed glass jar, or a plastic zipper bag to contain all broken components.

Visit the EPA for complete information on cleaning up a broken CFL light bulb.  Don’t be discouraged by the small amount of mercury in CFL bulbs.  The environmental benefits of CFL light bulbs far outweigh any mercury risk.