CFLs are good for the environment -
but don't forget to recycle old bulbs
Replacing just one incandescent bulb with a CFL will save you about $30 on your annual electric bill. For those individuals concerned about global warming and leaving a cleaner world for future generations, CFLs are a positive step.
But it’s important to recycle CFLs since they contain small amounts of mercury. California law forbids the disposal of any lamps containing mercury in the regular solid waste trash.
SMUD is working with state and local agencies to develop better recycling options and drive the industry toward developing CFLs with lower quantities of mercury. In the SMUD service area, mercury-containing bulbs can be recycled at the following locations. See disposal information below.
Recycling old CFLs
California law forbids the disposal of any lamps containing mercury in the regular solid waste trash.
A compact fluorescent light bulb generally contains an average of five milligrams of mercury – about one-fifth the amount of mercury in an average watch battery, and one-hundredth the amount of mercury in an amalgam dental filling. No mercury is released when CFLs are intact or in use.
Cleaning up a broken CFL
If a CFL breaks, your greatest risk is being cut by broken glass. The Environmental Protection Agency offers the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:
- Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
- Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place in a sealed plastic bag.
- Use disposable rubber gloves if available. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposal wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag.
- Place all cleanup materials in a second sealed plastic bag.
- Store the plastic articles in an outdoor area until they can be recycled properly at one of the sites listed below.
- If a CFL breaks on a rug or carpet, remove as much of the material as possible without using a vacuum cleaner. Sticky tape can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
- If vacuuming is needed, clean the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag and put the bag or vacuum debris in sealed plastic bags. Store the sealed articles in an outdoor area until they can be properly recycled.
Disposal of CFLs
It's important to dispose of CFLs properly. Here are links to more information on municipal waste-disposal in the SMUD service area:
The following retailers also accept old CFLs for recycling:
- ACE Hardware (all Sacramento-area locations)
- Orchard Service Hardware (all Sacramento-area locations)
- Home Depot (all Sacramento-area locations)
- IKEA
700 IKEA Court, West Sacramento
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