Using compact fluorescent light bulbs is a wonderful way to conserve energy and save money. The amount of energy used by a compact fluorescent light bulb is around one fourth of the energy used by a regular incandescent light bulb. By increasing the use of “energy saving bulbs“, we can significantly decrease the amount of energy used on a daily basis. But this brilliant energy saving light bulb does have a down side. Luckily, the down side is very tiny in relation to the good compact fluorescent light bulbs accomplish for the environment. Education on the disposal of these light bulbs is all that is needed to decrease and hopefully erase any negative impact these light bulbs may have on the environment.

The biggest issue with fluorescent light bulbs is the fact that they contain mercury. Mercury can be a very harmful chemical under the right amounts and circumstances. Each compact fluorescent light bulb contains about four or five milligrams of mercury, which is a one hundred times less than the amount that is in an old fashioned household thermometer. The important thing is to educate everyone so that they know the correct way to dispose of compact fluorescent light bulbs, so that the mercury contained in them is not released into the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency is working throughout the United States to ensure that there are
proper recycling procedures in place to handle compact fluorescent light bulbs. Many recycling plants will take the light bulbs and dispose of them properly. If your state allows you to simply throw compact fluorescent light bulbs away with your regular garbage, please make sure to insert the bulb into two sealed plastic bags before putting it in your garbage can. This will minimize the risk of mercury escaping into the environment from your light bulb.

If a compact fluorescent light bulb breaks in your home, there are certain steps recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency for cleaning up the breakage and disposing of the pieces.

1. Remove all people and animals from the room where the compact fluorescent light bulb broke.
2. Open a window or turn on a ventilation system and let the room air out for
   at least fifteen minutes before reentering.
3. Turn off all central air or heating units so that the mercury does not get spread throughout the
   hone through the ventilation/heating/cooling system.
4. Do not touch any of the broken pieces or the powder from the compact fluorescent light bulb with your bare hands.
5. Contain pieces in either a glass, metal, or plastic container.
6. Clean the area where the light bulb broke with a wet cloth or paper towel.
7. Place the cloth or paper towels into the container with the other pieces of the compact fluorescent light bulb.
8. If your state allows it, place the container with the light bulb pieces
   and the cleaning materials into the trash. If your state does not allow this
   type of disposal, please take these items to the nearest recycling center
   for proper disposal of the hazardous materials.

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