What to do with busted energy saving light bulbs???

Question

What to do with busted energy saving light bulbs???

Answer 1

Open all windows.

Carefully pick up the pieces and put them into a bag.

Take a piece of duct tape and "sponge up" the powder with the tape.

Let the air dissipate with the windows open and throw the chunks of bulb away.

In the event that the bulb burns out but does not break, be sure to return it to a proper processing facility, but if it's broken the proper disposal ship has sailed.

Answer 2

If a CFL breaks you should:

Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room

1. Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.

2. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.

3. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

4. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

5. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

6. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.

7. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

It is still worth it to buy CFLs because it saves up to 75% less energy because they operate at lower temperatures and they last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. To me this sounds like a no brainier. I save money on my electric bill and they last a lot longer. I know they cost more upfront, but in the life span of the bulb it is a lot cheaper to use CFL's and recycle it than use the halogen bulbs.

Be careful because they do contain mercury but the amount is very minimal and if disposed of properly they will not hurt you.  For a few dollars you can recycle them through the mail. It is still cheaper to buy and recycle a CFL. Than to use a halogen light bulb.

I go to http://veoliaes-ts.com/RecyclePak to recycle my light bulbs. It is fastest and easiest way I have found.

Answer 3

I've put two links below.

One is to the EPA, and their recommendations about how to clean up a broken compact fluorescent lamp.  Basically, it says to just keep pets and kids away, don't blow a whole lot of air across the broken pieces, pick up all the pieces, put the waste outside, and wash your hands.

The second is an article about CFL's, and why the mercury in them is really nothing to worry about.  

Note that you should NOT recycle the pieces.  They have traces of mercury on them.

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

they need to be recycled and if it is litteraly broken wash your hands it has mercury in them

Answer 5

Be careful they have mercury in them, I'd rather shut off a light than use those things. Don't touch or breathe in the air around it, put into bag and wrap and then I have no idea what to do with it, thats why I don't like something that is suppose to help but in itself is dangerous. Just use low volt bulbs, and one lamp at a time, burn a candle, but don't burn down the house.

Answer 6

Open the windows.  Turn off central air/heat.  Clean up the busted glass carefully.  use sticky tape or a damp paper towel on the last shards.  Do not vacuum.  Put everything in a sealed plastic bag.

1st choice - bag goes to a household hazardous waste program.  2nd choice, put it in the trash.

Air out the room for a few hours.

And don't worry about it.  The amount of mercury is tiny.

Breaking a mercury thermometer is a MUCH bigger deal.  More details about all this here:

http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index....