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Safely Handling and Recycling Fluorescent Light Bulbs
All fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, whether it's the long, tube bulbs in an office or compact fluorescent lamps (known as CFLs) in a home. Because mercury poses a potentially serious health risk and because the use of mercury-containing bulbs is increasing, it's crucial that businesses and residents understand how to safely handle and dispose of broken bulbs and recycle spent bulbs.
Handling and disposing of broken bulbs
- What to do if a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home or office
- What to avoid doing in case of an accident involving mercury
Recycling spent bulbs
Residents and business in New Jersey, New York and Puerto Rico have several options for recycling spent mercury-containing bulbs in their areas and surrounding states.
- State and local mercury bulb recycling programs
- Fluorescent Lamp Disposal and Recycling in EPA Region 2 -- A Guide for Businesses [PDF 348 KB, 4 pp]
- National Electronic Manufactures of America's list of mercury bulb recyclers
- IKEA stores in the United States accept spent CFLs
- Home Depot CFL Recycling Program
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's mercury task force
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's mercury management page
EPA mercury links
- Region 2 mercury page
- National mercury page
- Energy Star's CFL fact sheet (reasons to use CFLs, how much mercury is in a bulb, why CFLs contain mercury) [PDF 72 KB, 2 pp]
