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CFL Recycling and Disposal Information Sheet
Why is recycling CFLs important?

Recycling prevents the release of mercury into the environment. CFLs and other fluorescent
lamps are a ‘sealed system’ which allows the mercury and phosphorus to be controlled and
reused. When thrown into regular trash, they will likely break, releasing those chemicals into
our air and water.

Materials in the bulbs get reused. Recycling CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs allows reuse of
the glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights.

California law prohibits throwing out CFL’s in the trash.
How to recycle CFLs?

Visit SFEnvironment.org to locate a Bay Area recycling center near you.
Your own local refuse removal service will also list how to get CFLs recycled – see their website. Many
counties have household hazardous waste drop-off locations and/or curbside and other special
collection programs.

Local retailers. Many hardware supply stores and other retailers offer in-store recycling, such as
Ace/True Value Hardware, Home Depot, IKEA, Lowe’s, and Orchard Supply. Make sure you check
directly with the store before you go; not all stores are equipped to recycle lights.

Use mail-back services. Some bulb manufacturers and other organizations sell pre-labeled
recycling kits that allow you to mail used bulbs to recycling centers. The cost of each kit includes
shipping charges to the recycling center. You fill up a kit with old bulbs, seal it, and bring it to the
post office or leave for your postal carrier.
What to do if you have a broken CFL
CFL’s contain very small amounts of mercury and phosphorus sealed within the glass tubing. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following clean‐up and disposal steps:
Before cleanup - air out the room
 Have people and pets leave the room for 15 minutes or more, don't let anyone walk through the
breakage area on their way out.
 Open a window before leaving the room to help it air out.
 Shut off the central forced‐air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
Cleanup steps for hard surfaces
 Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a
glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
 Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder
and place in a sealed jar or plastic bag. Do not use a vacuum.
 Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass
jar or plastic bag.
Cleanup steps for carpeting or rug
 Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with a lid or a sealed plastic bag.
 Use sticky tape to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
 If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb
was broken.
 Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in
a sealed plastic bag.
Cleanup steps for clothing, bedding and other soft materials
 Clothing or bedding should be thrown away if they come into contact with a broken CFL. Do not
wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the
machine and/or pollute sewage.
 You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury
vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken
CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the broken bulb.
 If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury‐containing powder from the
bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes
in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.
Disposal of cleanup materials
 Immediately place all clean‐up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the
next normal trash pickup.
 Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean‐up materials.
Future cleaning of carpeting or rug: air out the room during and after vacuuming
 The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced‐air heating/air conditioning
system and open a window before vacuuming.
 Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15
minutes after vacuuming is completed.
Concerned about the effects of mercury on the body after a CFL break?
A study conducted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) found that disposing
of a broken CFL resulted in mercury exposure equivalent to about 1⁄50th of an ounce - that’s the
amount of mercury in a single nibble of Albacore tuna. Visit this link for more information:
http://1000bulbs.com/pages/mercury.html