Bulb Disposal

One of the questions that comes up frequently with CFL bulbs is...

"How do I dispose of them?"

Disposal is a concern because CFLs do contain very small amounts of mercury (2 to 5 mg).

But don't worry, CFLs are still perfectly safe to use. To put it in perspective a watch battery has about 25 mg and a tooth filling 100 mg.

Just sweep up the glass and put it in a safe container for disposal. For more information on what to do if a CFL breaks you can visit the EPA's website. So where can you dispose of it?

Like other household hazardous waste (for example batteries or paint cans) you can't just throw used up CFLs in the regular garbage. The good thing, however, is that because they last 7 times longer than regular bulbs, you won't have to dispose of them very often.

When it does come time to dispose of your used CFLs, place them in a safe container (so they don't break en route) and drop them off at an approved disposal depot. Each municipality has their own programs for such disposal. Project Porchlight is also working with municipalities and organizations to develop more convenient disposal options. We plan to get a lot more energy saving light bulbs out there soon!

For information on Bulb Recycling, see our Bulb Recycling Page.