![]() ![]() It seems the 2000$ clean up stories are a bit too much but they do seem to be dangerous and care needs to be taken. I wasn’t aware of it, however, until this morning when I stepped on a piece of the broken glass (it was a very small break- just the tip of the curly part broke off and most of the bulb was intact.) I did everything the EPA says not to do - i slept in my bedroom, turned AC on, the whole 9 yards. The main advice seems to be DO NOT Vacuum the bulb debris. I broke a cfl bulb in my closet last night. There seems to be some confusion on just how dangerous these CFL broken bulbs may be. The next time you replace a bulb, consider putting a drop cloth on the floor so that any accidental breakage can be easily cleaned up." To determine where your town has made arrangements for recycling of this type of waste, call your town office or check out the Maine Department of Environmental Protection website at Take the container for recycling as universal waste. Put all waste and materials used to clean up the bulb in the glass container and label it “Universal Waste - broken lampâ€. Wipe the area with a damp cloth or paper towels to pick up fine particles. Pat the area with the sticky side of duct, packing or masking tape. Put all material into the glass container. You can use a disposable broom and dustpan or two stiff pieces of paper to scoop up pieces. Next, begin collecting the smaller pieces and dust. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as rubber gloves, safety glasses, old clothing or coveralls, and a dust mask (if you have one) to keep bulb dust and glass from being inhaled.Ĭarefully remove the larger pieces and place them in a secure closed container, preferably a glass container with a metal screw top and gasket seal like a canning jar. Keep people and pets away from the breakage area so that the mercury in the powder inside the bulb is not accidentally tracked into other areas. A standard vacuum will spread mercury containing dust throughout the area as well as potentially contaminating the vacuum. The most important thing to remember is to never use a vacuum. Know how to minimize your risk when using CFLs and get directions for clean-up if you break a CFL."What if I accidentally break a fluorescent bulb in my home? CFLs should be left intact because of the dangers associated with mercury vapours, glass shards and dust.Īlthough CFLs are considered safe to use, there are some steps you can take to further protect you and your family. Used CFLs must be handled carefully to ensure that they do not break or implode and release mercury. Learn about the different advantages of using LEDs. LEDs are currently more expensive than CFLs, but offer even greater energy efficiency and a longer lifespan. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are also becoming an effective replacement technology for inefficient lamps. Consumers should look for low mercury, long-life lamps and dispose of end-of-life lamps properly. All CFLs contain mercury as it is an essential component of the lamps.Ĭurrently there are no alternative lighting devices that are as energy efficient and affordable as CFLs. While their energy efficiency is being promoted, there have also been concerns raised recently about CFL use. ![]() Increasingly, Canadians are replacing regular incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient products, such as compact fluorescent lamps ( CFLs). ![]()
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