How to Dispose of Incandescent Bulbs

Switching to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) is one quick and easy way to decrease the amount of energy you need to light your home as well as decreasing your utility bill! But you have heard correctly. In order to make CFLs an eco-friendly choice from start to finish, you do need to dispose of them differently than you would a traditional incandescent bulb. This is due to the small amount of mercury that is sealed in the glass tubing of the bulb.

On average, a CFL will contain around 5 mg of mercury; not a lot when you consider that old thermometers contained around 500 mg of mercury. Mercury is the biggest environmental drawback to CFLs, and knowing this, manufacturers are working to reduce even further the amount of mercury in their bulbs. So when your CFL’s finally do burn out, you need to take them to a proper recycling station. The easiest way to find one near you is to go to www.earth911.org and type in CFL and your zip code. If the drop-off is out of the way, you may want to consider storing your old CFLs in a secure container until you’ll either be in the area, or you have enough old bulbs to warrant a trip.

For more information or to subscribe at the introductory price of $10 a year, go to positivelygreen.com. Positively Green magazine launched in 2008 as a quarterly women’s magazine that covers every aspect of green from eco-friendly vacations to green fashion to green health. With articles that don’t just explain the problems, they outline solutions for busy people who want to make the change but don’t have the time to research solutions.

Read more: Green, Home, CFLs, responsible disposal

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Miranda R.

12:11AM PDT on May 4, 2012

Ummmm...and how many people are actually going to dispose of them properly? Along with all other eWaste? I think putting a product on the shelves that has any mercury at all is irresponsible. This is NOT green!

send a green star

Brenda T.

5:42AM PDT on Mar 29, 2012

Thanks

Debbie L.

6:24PM PST on Jan 2, 2012

Thanks.

New G.

8:41PM PST on Dec 29, 2011

Thank you.

KS G.

5:17AM PDT on May 23, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Anya G.

9:28AM PDT on May 21, 2011

I hate these bulbs. I use them, but they suck. I've tried multiple brands and the stupid things keep burning out....Kind of kills the point. I'm going to keep trying different brands.....My wallet hates me.

Lynn C.

5:39PM PDT on May 20, 2011

Great! So far the bulbs have lasted and no one's broken one..but I'm prepared now!

Jon H.

5:56AM PDT on May 20, 2011

Hmmmmmmmmmm!

C. G.

3:34PM PDT on May 5, 2011

interesting

Pam G.

5:30AM PDT on Apr 7, 2011

I do not like these type of bulbs as they do not put out enough light for a room. I will not go out of my way to dispose of them so they need to come up with a safer less expensive bulb.