How to Safely Dispose of Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Safely dispose of CFL bulbs through retail stores and collection sites and safely make clean upwardly any cleaved bulbs.
Many households accept transitioned from incandescent lights to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use close to seventy pct less energy. But here'south where CFLs are dissimilar from traditional bulbs: you lot shouldn't toss CFLs into your household garbage.
Why Exercise CFL Bulbs Need Special Disposal?
CFL bulbs contain nearly 5 milligrams of mercury, which can be toxic to the environment.
CFL bulbs are considered hazardous waste in many areas and require a lilliputian more than planning when it comes to disposal. It's a small trade-off for the benefit of more efficient bulbs, which terminal longer and require less coal- or oil-fired electricity.
Here's the right manner to get rid of 12 mutual hazardous household items.
What is the Easiest Style to Dispose of CFL Bulbs?
The easiest selection is to take your sometime bulbs to your local home center or hardware store when ownership new ones. Stores such as The Home Depot, Lowe's, Batteries Plus, IKEA and independent hardware bondage, volition do the recycling for you.
Some CFL bulb manufacturers may likewise provide pre-labeled containers for recycling used bulbs through the post.
How Else Can I Recycle CFLs?
For details and an expanded list of safe and local disposal options, get to Earth911.com. This database of 100,000 recycling and hazardous waste sites provides details for proper disposal of CFLs or anything else yous need to recycle.
Many counties also have household hazardous waste product sites for collecting bulbs and other potentially toxic materials, such as solvents and unused pigment.
Several states, including California, Maine and Minnesota, do have more stringent recycling laws, which yous tin find out nigh on the U.Southward. Ecology Protection Agency (EPA) website.
If you live in an area with no recycling options or requirements, brand certain CFL bulbs are independent in a sealed plastic bag before adding to your household waste.
What if a CFL Bulb Breaks?
Because a cleaved CFL seedling can expose a person to mercury vapor, accept quick precautions if this happens at habitation. The EPA recommends these steps:
- Turn off whatsoever fans or heating and cooling systems so fumes are contained.
- Open a window and permit the room ventilate for 10 minutes.
- Use cardboard to scoop and elevator up the large pieces. Use gloves and gluey record to pick upward smaller pieces and shards that are kept contained in a sealed plastic pocketbook.
- Wipe down the surface area with a moisture paper towel or old towel that can besides exist sealed up. Have the broken bulb remnants to your recycler, if possible.
What if I Have Fluorescent Tube Bulbs?
Fluorescent tube bulbs can mostly exist recycled at the same sites that accept used CFL bulbs, merely some retailers may not take larger ones. Check Earth911 for your area and phone call ahead to be sure, or take your used fluorescent tube bulbs to your nearest household hazardous waste site.
Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/how-to-safely-dispose-of-fluorescent-light-bulbs/
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