How should I dispose of expired and/or broken CFL bulbs?
A. According to the EPA, over their lifetimes, CFLs result in less mercury being released into the environment than incandescent light bulbs. Still, CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury – enough to fill the tip of a lead pencil. So, if a CFL bulb breaks, careful clean-up of the breakage area is necessary. To cleanup a broken CFL bulb: first, clear the room of people and pets. Then, open a window to air out the room for at least 15 minutes. If the bulb is broken on a hard surface, take a piece of stiff paper or cardboard and scoop up as much of the debris and residue as possible. Use an old glove or sock to protect hands and then wipe up any remaining residue with a moist paper towel. If the bulb broke on a carpeted surface, use sticky tape to blot up any residue. Put the broken bulb and all clean-up materials in a plastic bag or a jar that can be sealed with a lid. If on campus, dispose of the broken bulb and clean-up materials by giving them to the maintenance person in your buil
