From Jetson Green…
A few days after Christmas, the EPA issued updated guidance on how to clean up a broken compact fluorescent lamp (“CFL”) bulb. CFLs are made with a small amount of mercury that can be released as vapor when broken. That vapor is a health risk, although the EPA still encourages the use of CFLs to save energy and reduce GHG emissions. Here’s an outline of the EPA’s CFL cleanup guidance:
Before Cleanup
- Clear room of people and pets
- Open a window or door to ventilate the room for 5-10 minutes
- If on, shut off the central HVAC system
- Gather cleanup materials
During Cleanup
- Collect broken glass and visible powder
- Contain glass and powder (in a glass jar with lid or sealable plastic bag)
Hard Surface Cleanup
- Scoop glass/powder with paper or cardboard
- Use duct tape or something sticky to grab remaining glass/powder
- Wipe the surface clean with damp paper towel or moist wipes
- Place everything in jar or plastic bag
- Place outside in trash or protected area for proper disposal
Carpet/Rug Cleanup
- Scoop glass/powder with paper or cardboard
- Use duct tape to grab remaining glass/powder
- Place everything in jar or plastic bag
- Place outside in trash or protected area for proper disposal
After Cleanup
- Avoid leaving bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors
- Place bulb materials and debris outside in trash or other protected area
- Wash hands with soap/water after disposal outside
- Naturally ventilate room for several hours
- Leave HVAC system off while ventilating room
The EPA discourages the use of a vacuum to clean broken CFLs. That said, if you’re going to use a vacuum, the EPA has some detailed guidance on how to do it. Among other things, you should try to use the vacuum hose, remove the vacuum bag, clean the vacuum, and seal the bag and cleanup materials.
The EPA also has several suggestions to avoid breaking a CFL in the first place. You should avoid twisting the glass tubing and try to use CFLs with a cover over the spiral or folded glass tubes. Also, CFLs should be replaced with a drop cloth on the ground — this will soften a drop or contain breakage.
CFLs have about 3-4 milligrams of mercury contained within the glass tubes and should be disposed of properly. To find a disposal site, visit Earth 911 or the EPA’s Bulb Recycling page for more information.