Why Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)?

• They can be used almost anywhere in your home.
• They use approximately 66-75% less energy than an incandescent bulb.
• They last up to 6-10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb.

Some Facts about CFLs and Mercury:

A trace amount of mercury is contained in each CFL, less than 5 mg. The amount of mercury in a CFL is 1/5 the amount in a watch battery. Mercury is commonly found in thermometers, thermostats, and button cell batteries. Older household thermometers contain about 500 mg of mercury. It would take over 100 CFLs to equal that amount.

How to Best Use CFLs:

• For maximum savings, CFLs should be installed in high use areas. For maximum life, CFLs work best in locations where the light is left on for at least 15 minutes at a time.
• In dimmable fixtures you must use CFLs labeled for use with dimmers.
• In the cold or outdoors, use CFLs that are rated for low temperatures.
• If a bulb accidentally breaks, please follow the clean-up procedure outlined on this document for your own safety.

What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?

CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Always screw and unscrew the bulb by its base (not the glass) and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket.

Should I use incandescent bulbs that don't contain mercury instead of CFLs in order to be safe?

No mercury is released when CFLs are in use. The risk of exposure to mercury from the occasional broken CFL bulb is very small. Using CFLs reduces the amount of mercury in the air by reducing the amount of electricity that power companies need to produce.

What to Do if Your Bulb Breaks:

• By following the directions below, you can safely clean up a broken CFL. It is not necessary to hire a professional to clean up the bulb.
• Keep people and pets away from breakage area so that mercury is not tracked into other areas of your home.
• Assemble the following supplies before cleaning up:
  • Disposable gloves, tweezers, tape, and a puncture resistant container or sealable plastic bag.

For Breakage on a Hard Surface:

1. Ventilate the room by closing all interior doors and vents, opening windows and any exterior doors in the room and leaving the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
2. Remove all materials you can and don't use a vacuum cleaner.  
   1. Wear disposable gloves, if available.
   2. Carefully scoop up the glass fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard (such as playing cards or index cards).
   3. Pick up any remailing small pieces of glass and powder using sticky tape (such as masking or duct tape)
   4. Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.
3. Place all clean-up materials (cardboard, gloves, tape, etc.) into a glass or rigid container with a lid. If a glass or rigid container is not available, place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag (and double bag) and seal it. Store the
   container or bag outside of the house in an area inaccessible to children.
4. Wash your hands.
5. Contact your local solid waste district, alliance, or municipality for proper disposal; or call 800-974-9559 or 802-241-3888.
6. Leave windows in the affected room open as long as practical (weather permitting)

For Breakage on a Carpet:

1. Complete steps 1 through 6 above.
2. If rug is removable, take it outside, shake, and air out as long as practical.
3. (After cleanup and the room has been ventilated) The first time you vacuum the area where the CFL was broken, shut the door to the room or close off the area from as much of the rest of the house as possible and ventilate the room when vacuuming. Remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area, wipe the vacuum with wet wipe and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, including cleaning materials, into a plastic bag and double bag and store the bag outside the house in an area inaccessible to children. Contact your local solid waste district, alliance or municipality as instructed in #5 above.
4. After vacuuming, keep window open, door closed and children/pets out of room.
5. Consider removal of carpeting section where the breakage has occurred as a precaution when there are infants, small children and pregnant women present. For questions, call the Vermont Department of Health at 1-800-439-8550 (toll-free in VT) or (802) 863-7220 (dial zero). During non-work hours, call the Northern New England Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Please visit www.mercvt.org to search for your local disposal site by city or town.

When You Are Ready to Dispose:

You can bring your spent CFLs to many local hardware stores and lighting retail stores (limit 6 bulbs per customer visit). For a list of participating stores, see: www.mercvt.org or www.newbulbintown.com. You can also contact your local solid waste district, alliance, or municipality.

For Disposal Information in Your Area Call:

Vermont Department of Health
802-863-7220 and dial 0

Addison County Solid Waste District
802-388-2333

Bennington Regional Planning Commission
802-375-2576

Central Vermont Solid Waste District
800-730-9475 or 802-229-9383

Chittenden Solid Waste District
802-872-8111

Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste District
802-296-3688

Lamoille Regional Solid Waste District
802-888-7317

Londonderry Group
802-824-3356

Mad River Solid Waste Alliance
802-244-7373

Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District
800-734-4602 or 802-626-3532

Northwest Vermont Solid Waste District
802-524-5986

Solid Waste Alliance Community (SWAC)
518-854-9702

Southern Windsor/Windham County SWMD
802-674-9235

Tri-Town Agreement
802-728-5433

White River Alliance
802-234-9340

Windham Solid Waste District
802-257-0272

Download a Mercury Information Sheet (PDF)