Bulb Recycling

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) contain small amounts of mercury that is harmful to the environment. Do not dispose of spent mercury bulbs in household trash receptacles.

Find a recycling location near you (see section on “How to get started” below).

Save, and Help the Environment

When you replace old bulbs with CFLs, the CFLs:

• Use up to 75% less energy
• Can last 10 times longer than regular bulbs
• Help the environment

If every US household replaced a bulb with an ENERGY STAR® CFL, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes, about $600 million in energy costs and prevent emissions from the equivalent of 800,000 cars in one year.

You should recycle CFLs at approved locations. In most states, these locations will be local recycling or solid waste facilities. 

To find a location near you, please contact your local waste facility or see:

EPA Information on CFL recycling

Any customer in any state can participate.

What’s in a CFL

Manufacturers are working to reduce mercury in fluorescent lights. A CFL contains a very small amount of mercury in its glass tubing—about 5 milligrams—an amount that only covers the tip of a ballpoint pen. That’s just a tiny fraction of the mercury found in old thermometers—about 500 milligrams which is equal to the amount in 100 CFLs.

What to do if a CFL breaks—EPA Guidelines

CFLs are made of glass and can break. Be careful when removing CFLs from packaging, installing or replacing them. If a CFL breaks, follow the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for proper clean-up.

Additional efficiency programs may be available at www.efficiencyunited.com.