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Fluorescent bulbs are safe to use. Store, install and dispose of them properly to prevent breakage and exposure to mercury. Never throw these bulbs away - recycle them instead.
Using fluorescent lights has great benefits:
- Fluorescent bulbs last five to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs.
- Fluorescent bulbs use less energy, reducing fossil fuel emissions at power plants.
- The energy saved from fluorescent lighting results in a net reduction in mercury pollution.
- Using fluorescent bulbs can save $30 in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulb.
Reduction Tips
Mercury can also be found in other products, such as older (non-digital) fever thermometers. To reduce your family's exposure, look for mercury-free alternatives and always properly dispose of any product containing mercury.To learn more about sources of mercury, how it is released, and what we can do to help protect our families, animals and the environment, see the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website.
For mercury spills in the home, see Cleaning up spilled mercury in the home, on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency web site.
Disposal Information
WHERE TO RECYCLE
- Household hazardous waste collection sites - Some
counties collect fluorescent and other non-incandescent bulbs for
recycling. Contact your county for disposal information.
- Hardware stores and fluorescent bulb retailers - The Minneapolis retailers listed below accept bulbs for recycling (usually for a small fee). Before choosing a retailer, ask about fees and hours.
- Home Depot offers nationwide recycling for compact fluorescent bulbs.
- Menards locations included in the map below accept compact fluorescent bulbs for recycling for
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Think Green From Home is the safe, convenient mailback recycling program for household CFLs, fluorescent tubes, batteries and electronics. Containers can be ordered at www.thinkgreenfromhome.com The program includes Mercury VaporLok(tm) recycling containers for safe storage in your home and prepaid postage for easy return from your mailbox.
- "Take back" programs - Ask the retailer where you purchased your bulbs if the store has a "take back" program to accept bulbs for recycling.
- Electric utilities - Yours may offer discount coupons for fluorescent bulb recycling:
- Municipality collection events – Your city or township may also collect fluorescent bulbs for recycling on its recycling drop-off days.
WHAT TO RECYCLE
- Compact fluorescent bulbs (all sizes)
- Fluorescent bulbs of all shapes and sizes (tubes, circles, U-shaped, bug "zappers", tanning lamps, and black lights)
- High intensity discharge (HID) lamps, typically used for exterior lighting (metal halide, mercury vapor and high pressure sodium)
- Neon lights
TIPS FOR SAFE STORAGE AND TRANSPORT
- Carefully transport bulbs to avoid breakage and exposure to mercury.
- To avoid breaking bulbs, pack them in their original packaging or wrap in newspaper or bubble wrap and place in a box.
- Do not use tape on the bulbs.
- Do not break or crush bulbs - you could be exposed to mercury.
- If bulbs break accidentally, store and transport the pieces in a sealed container. Include even small broken pieces. Ventilate the area where the bulb broke.
- It's OK to throw out ordinary incandescent light bulbs and halogen bulbs because they don't contain mercury. If in doubt about what to throw, contact your county.
This information is provided as a public service and is not intended to be an endorsement of any business, organization or service. For additional listings, check your local phone directory.