Solid Waste Programs

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Fluorescent Lamps
Small Quantity Generator Program
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Solid Waste Management Plan
2012 Annual Environmental Health Report

The use of energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to replace incandescent bulbs is recommended by the US EPA because they ironically prevent mercury from entering our air.  While CFLs contain a small amount of mercury as an essential ingredient, the largest source of mercury emissions in the US comes from coal-fired power plants to produce electricity.

Here's the reasoning:  a CFL uses 75% less energy than an incandescent bulb and lasts six to ten times longer.  Over five years, a power plant will emit 10mg of mercury to produce the electricity to run an incandescent bulb, compared to only 2.4mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same time.  Combined with the 4.0mg of mercury to run a CFL itself, lighting using incandescent bulbs is responsible for emitting a third more mercury into the environment.

In fact, according to a recent report by the Earth Policy Institute, a worldwide shift to CFLs would permit the closing of more than 270 coal-fired power plants.  Switching to CFLs in the US alone could save the energy output of 80 plants.

Quick Fact:

Where can I recycle my Fluorescent Bulbs/Tubes?

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs are accepted at the HHWF when open. 

4 foot - 8 foot Fluorescent Tubes are accepted only at our HHWF when open.

Please do not tape bulbs together.

For other locations and information, visit http://www.lightrecycle.org/

Clean-Up in case of Breakage:

• If a light breaks, it releases a small amount mercury (from 4 - 30 milligrams).  This amount of mercury exposure could pose a health risk particularly to pregnant woman and small children.

• Open the window and leave the area for 15 minutes.  If possible, close doors that lead into the room.  Keep children and pets away from the area.  Pregnant women should ask someone else in the household to do this job.

• Do not use a vacuum cleaner at this point.

• Have a container ready for disposal of the broken glass and clean-up materials.  A heavy double plastic bag, or empty food container (such as from cottage cheese or deli take out) will work for this purpose. 

• Pick up the larger pieces first.  Do not use your bare hands.  If possible, wear disposable gloves.  If gloves are not available, pick up the larger pieces using a wet paper towel or disposable wipe.  Put the larger pieces in your disposal container.

• Carefully scoop up the small slivers of glass fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.  Put this in your disposal bag or container.

• Use a sticky tape (such as duct tape) to pick up small pieces of glass and powder.

• Then use damp paper towels or disposable wipes to clean up the area.  Place these paper towels or wipes in the disposal bag or container as well.

• If the light broke in a carpeted area, do all these steps before any vacuuming is done.  The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommends that if you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, that you "remove the vacuum bag once you are done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the vacuum bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in 2 sealed plastic bags" for disposal.

• Take off the disposable gloves, by turning them inside out as you remove them, and put them in the bag or container.  Seal the bag or container to prevent anyone else from coming in contact with the contents.

• At this point, if possible, place the plastic bag or food container into a cardboard box for extra protection.  Seal up the box with tape.

• This sealed bag, container, or box with the broken fluorescent light and the clean-up waste may be thrown in the garbage or brought to one of the recycling location listed above.

• Wash your hands thoroughly after the clean-up.