How to Dispose of Light Bulbs Containing Small Amounts of Mercury
- 1). Open a window to ventilate the room, and turn off the central heat and air system. Evacuate the room and ensure no one walks through the broken bulb area. Let the room air out for at least 15 minutes. People are often exposed to mercury by inhaling the vapors after a bulb breaks, so proper ventilation is essential to protecting human health. Do not turn on the central heat and air or close the window until after the spill is properly cleaned.
- 2). Scoop up large pieces of the bulb using two pieces of cardboard or stiff paper. Make sure you are wearing gloves before handling the broken bulb pieces. Put the large fragments into a glass jar or plastic bag with zipper closure.
- 3). Use masking tape or duct tape to pick up smaller debris and fragments. Put the tape in the plastic bag or glass jar.
- 4). Wipe the area clean with wet paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Put the towels or wipes in the plastic bag or glass jar. Put gloves in the plastic bag or glass jar once cleanup is complete. Seal the plastic bag or tightly screw on the lid to the glass jar.
- 5). Vacuum the carpet where the bulb was broken if necessary. (Remember to keep the gloves on if you are still cleaning.) Remove the canister, and put debris into the plastic bag or glass jar. Wipe the canister with wet paper towels, and put the towels in the container with the rest of the debris. If the vacuum cleaner has a bag instead of a canister, remove the bag and place it with the rest of the debris. Remove gloves, place them in the container and seal tightly.
- 6). Check your local solid waste management agency to find out where to recycle the broken bulb. If the bulb is not broken, simply place it in a sturdy container, preferably the original packaging. Place the bulb in a plastic zipper bag or a crush-proof container if the original package is unavailable. Some cities or counties provide recycling opportunities for residents and will often accept them through household hazardous collection facilities or events. In addition an increasing number of retail stores that sell compact fluorescent light bulbs collect burned out or broken bulbs. In 2009 a company called NLR began a program that offers free recycling of compact fluorescent light bulbs by providing collection boxes to qualified businesses, schools and cities.
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