

It may disperse mercury vapor and leave particles trapped inside the cleaner bag. Finish by cleaning the area with a damp paper towel, and disposing of everything in a plastic bag, placed in an outside garbage can.Scoop materials with a stiff sheet of paper or piece of cardboard.Use duct tape or another adhesive material to pick up debris.Open windows and ventilate the area for at least 15 minutes.Keep children and pets away from the immediate area.However, to keep mercury vapor exposure at a minimum, take these precautions: If a CFL does break, the broken glass is probably the biggest concern.

However, even that very tiny amount of mercury should be considered when its time to dispose of the bulb. According to the EPA, 1 CFL contains a 100 times less mercury than is found in a single dental amalgam filling or old-style glass thermometer. The highly efficient Compact Fluorescent Lights ( CFLs) contain a small amount of mercury. Broken Compact Fluorescent Light Clean-Up Instructions Several Ace Hardware stores and IKEA accept burnt out Compact Fluorescent Lights ( CFLs) at no charge for recycling. Will County provides several 1-day Household Hazardous Waste ( HHW) Collections annually and sponsors a permanent HHW collection site. If so, seal the bulb tightly in a plastic bag and place it into the trash for the next trash collection.From the Will County Residential Recycling Guide Fluorescent Light Bulb RecyclingĪll types of fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury and should not be broken or placed in the regular garbage.

Some offer free trade-ins or discounts on new LED holiday lights. If you can't find a store or local program that recycles lights, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises checking with a regional or state environmental regulatory agency to see if it's OK for you to put used or broken CFLs in the regular household trash. Light strands might also contain lead, which is in some polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wire coverings to make them more flexible and less likely to crack.Įstablished light recycling programs know what to do with old, used, and even broken lights. CFLs contain mercury, so if they are not properly discarded, they can break and release small amounts of mercury into the environment. Twinkle lights, CFLs, fluorescent bulbs, and incandescents should be recycled. However, if you decide to switch to LEDs, what do you do with those old bulbs and Christmas lights? First off, don't just discard them in the trash. LEDs are more durable, don't heat up like other types of lights, and don't use glass, meaning you won't be shattering a few lights each year. The same goes for holiday lights and strands, even if you only use them for a few weeks out of a year and they continue to work. Please keep this document for reference, pass it along to a friend or recycle it in the green tote. Replacing old compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and fluorescent light strips with LED lights is an environmental and money-saving decision. BROWN BLOCK CLUBS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS: To schedule a free recycling presentation or site visit, please contact Susan Attridge at 851.5014 or. The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
