How do I dispose of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)? Do they need to be recycled?
If you need to dispose of your bulbs, please visit our disposal locator or the www.mercvt.org website. Vermont law states that all mercury labeled products must be disposed of with hazardous waste rather than included in your regular trash. CFLs contain a trace amount of mercury — less than 5 milligrams. The amount of mercury in a CFL is 1/5 the amount in a watch battery. Mercury is commonly found in thermometers, light switches, thermostats, and batteries. Older household thermometers contain about 500 mg of mercury. It would take over 100 CFLs to equal that amount.
