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. Even if a CFL breaks, you need to be more worried about getting cut by the glass than the mercury. Just sweep up the glass and put it in a safe container for disposal. So where can you dispose of it?
Like other household hazardous waste (batteries or spray paint cans for example) 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 of 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 for there to be a lot more bulbs out there soon!
For information on Bulb Recycling, see our Recycling Page.
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