Energy-efficient Bulbs – Dangers? Disposal?

You’ve heard the ads for the new energy-efficient light bulbs; right? You know, save big money at _________. Up to $56 in energy savings “over the life of the bulb.” Nice words, too. “Up to…” Caveat emptor.

But what happens if a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulb breaks in your home? Do you know what to do? Just grab the broom and dustpan, sweep it up, throw it in the trash can? Right? WRONG!

And how do you dispose of a bulb? Just throw it out? NO (unless Illinois law so permits).

To find out how to dispose of CFL bulbs, I went to the ComEd website and read this: “ComEd is partnering with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and Ace Hardware to conduct a pilot CFL recycling program where 148 participating local Ace Hardware stores in northern Illinois will accept used CFLs from ComEd customers through June 2008 and properly dispose of them in IEPA-approved recycling facilities.

Aha, okay, let’s call Bohn ACE Hardware in Woodstock. Perhaps I should have known better than to call early on Sunday afternoon, but I did call and asked to speak with someone who knew about disposal of CFL bulbs. After waiting on hold, a young man answered. When I asked him if they accept bulbs for recycling, first he told me they sell bulbs. Glad to know that.

When I asked my question again, he said, “We throw ours away in a bin.” Oh, great. Poor old Mr. Bohn is probably rolling over in his grave!

So then I called Menard’s, where I was told that they don’t recycle CFL bulbs. The employee thought there might be a place in Woodstock where these bulbs are recycled, but she didn’t know.

If Illinois law did permit the throwing out of CFL bulbs, they should be double-bagged in plastic bags and placed in outside trash. Although not mentioned on the website, I’m pretty sure that they should be not “compacted” inside. And, from the ComEd statement above about IEPA-approved recycling facilities, my guess is that bulbs should be recycled and not just thrown out in the trash.

According to www.energystar.gov these bulbs contain small amounts of Mercury and broken CFL bulbs should be cleaned up properly and disposed up properly. For complete information, go to that website. For a summary, read on…

If a CFL bulbs breaks inside,

Open a window and go outside for at least 15 minutes.
Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up broken pieces on a hard surface.
Wear disposable gloves. Scoop up fragments with cardboard or stiff paper.
Wipe area clean with damp paper towel.
Place broken pieces and clean-up materials in a sealable plastic bag.
Place first bag in second bag, seal it and place in outside trash, IF state law permits; otherwise, dispose of it at recycling center.

If a CFL bulb breaks on a carpet, clean up first as best possible without using a vacuum cleaner.
Use duct tape to pick up smaller pieces and powder.
Place in sealable plastic bag.
Vacuum. Empty the vacuum bag and clean vacuum.
Dispose of contents and cleaning materials in sealable bag; then double-bag and place outside.

Teach these rules to your children, family members and housemates.