CFL Clean Up and Disposal
Quick Gude to
Cleaning Up a Broken CFL
Disposing of CFLsQuick Guide to
Cleaning Up a Broken CFL
Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small
amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.
The most
important steps recommended by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) 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 outside.
·
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 sealable container (plastic bag or glass jar with
metal lid).
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, if possible.
For
more detailed guidance on cleanup, including the steps for hard
surfaces and carpeting or rugs, and safely disposing of a broken
CFL, please visit:
www.epa.gov/cflcleanup.
Residential Lighting Information Sheet (pdf) |
