From the Will County Residential Recycling Guide:
Fluorescent Light Bulb Recycling
All types of fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury
and should not be broken or placed in the regular garbage. Will County provides
several one-day Household Hazardous Waste Collections annually and sponsors a
permanent HHW collection site. Several Ace Hardware stores and IKEA accept
burnt out CFLs at no charge for recycling.
Broken Compact Fluorescent Light Clean-Up
Instructions
The highly efficient Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) contain a small amount of
mercury. According to the EPA, one CFL contains a hundred times LESS mercury
than is found in a single dental amalgam filling or old-style glass
thermometer. However, even that very tiny amount of mercury should be
considered when its time to dispose of the bulb. If a CFL does break, the
broken glass is probably the biggest concern. However, to keep mercury vapor
exposure at a minimum, take these precautions:
- Keep children and pets away from the immediate area.
- Open windows and ventilate the area for at least 15 minutes.
- Put on disposable gloves.
- Use duct tape or another adhesive material to pick up debris.
- Scoop materials with a stiff sheet of paper or piece of cardboard.
- Finish by cleaning the area with a damp paper towel, and disposing of
everything in a plastic bag, placed in an outside garbage can.
IMPORTANT!
Never use a vacuum. It may disperse mercury vapor
and leave particles trapped inside the cleaner bag.
Fluorescent lamp
recycling