Understanding CFL mercury content and disposal

The debate over the eco-friendliness of compact fluorescent lights (CFL’s) has garnered a lot of media attention lately, largely due to the bulbs' mercury content and the fate of all that mercury once it winds up in landfills or if the bulbs get broken inside a home. In actuality, the amount of mercury in CFLs is relatively small, approximately 5 milligrams (mg), which is roughly equivalent to the mercury in two cans of albacore tuna. Older mercury-based thermometers contained about 500 mg.

Nonetheless, because you're still exposed to even a modicum of mercury through the use of CFL’s, there are a number of measures you should exercise in the unfortunate event that one breaks in your home. "Most mercury in CFL’s is in solid and vapor form," says Mark Kohorst, senior manager of environment, health and safety at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). To avoid inhaling mercury vapors if a bulb does break, the EPA advises opening a window as soon as possible and leaving the room for at least 15 minutes before starting to clean. Once you start:

• Never allow children or pregnant women near the spill area.

• Always wear rubber gloves; you should never touch mercury with your bare hands.

• Remove all metal jewelry, which might attract mercury magnetically.

• If the bulb breaks on hard flooring, use a piece of stiff paper to scoop up the broken glass and powder. Avoid using a broom that could stir up dust.

• Damp mop hard surfaces to pick up any remaining dust.

• If the bulb breaks on carpeting, use sticky tape to pick up the powder, dust and smaller pieces of glass. Vacuuming could disturb the dust and pose an inhalation risk.

• Afterwards, shine a flashlight to double check the area for missed spots.

• Seal all the rags, paper and tape, as well as the light bulb remains, in a plastic bag. Double bag it, and dispose at a household hazardous waste site. See www.earth911.org for one in your neighborhood.

• Wash your hands well and leave the room.

• Leave the window open and turn on a fan to air out the room for at least 24 to 48 hours.

• If you've touched mercury or are concerned about your exposure, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Because they contain so little mercury, broken bulbs usually don't need to be cleaned up professionally. Broken or not, all spent CFLs should be taken to household hazardous waste sites (you can find one near your home at www.earth911.org) or recycled. "Unless recycled—which is required by law in some jurisdictions—CFLs are typically either disposed in landfills or fed to municipal waste incinerators," says Kohorst. While landfills may be lined to prevent the release of mercury into groundwater, incinerators can release a bulb's mercury into the atmosphere.

Encourage retailers who sell CFLs to institute take-back and recycling programs similar to those initiated for electronics. Currently, Ikea is the only retailer who both sells CFLs and accepts them for recycling, but NEMA sponsors a recycling program through www.lamprecycle.org. For other CFL recyclers in your area, visit www.earth911.org.

To reduce potential mercury exposure even further, seek out lower-mercury lighting such as Philips ALTO Technology fluorescent bulbs, which contain between 2 and 3 mg of mercury; Philips 16W A-Shape Alto bulb ($10.50; www.blackenergy.com).