Disposal Of Mercury Vapor Light Bulbs

Cfls and the other light bulbs listed above contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.

Disposal of mercury vapor light bulbs. There may be a small charge for disposal and pre registration is usually required. Some states and local jurisdictions have more stringent regulations than u s. Establishing a recycling program for mercury containing light bulbs. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled.

To minimize exposure to mercury vapor epa recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described on this page. It is best to call for at least three quotes. If you must dispose of a. This breaks up the mercury into smaller drops increasing its surface area so that more mercury gets into the air and spread around.

Vapor control technology and monitoring records. Epa does and may require that you recycle cfls and other mercury containing light bulbs. If you are a business school or other non household site that is a ceg you can take elemental mercury mercury containing compounds or mercury containing devices for safe disposal to a permanent hhw collection facility or a hhw collection event. When a bulb breaks in your home some of this mercury may be released as mercury vapor.

Keep reading to learn the how to dispose of light bulbs correctly be they incandescents halogens. Light bulbs that contain even small traces of mercury are considered hazardous and require special disposal procedures. Each municipality has specific regulations for the disposal of such materials but luckily there are a number of ways to stay in compliance. This will release mercury into the air and greatly increase the level of contamination don t sweep up the mercury or broken glass with a broom.

Mercury light bulbs fluorescent and high intensity discharge bulbs are energy efficient inexpensive and used in a variety of residential commercial and industrial situations including schools. Include recycling costs in your annual budget. What not to do after a mercury spill. Since a small amount of mercury vapor escapes when the tube breaks.

The result is that use of cfls releases about 80 per cent less mercury than incandescent light bulbs.