12.29.2010 11:17 AM

EPA Updates Recommendations for Cleaning Up Broken CFLs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, contain small amounts of toxic mercury, so you should know what to do when one breaks inside your home.

Also see our comparison of 9 energy efficient light bulbs.

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CFLs save money.

Photo: Christine Balderas / IStock

By Dan Shapley

The Environmental Protection Agency has updated its recommendations for cleaning up broken compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). View the detailed recommendations, or keep reading for the basics:

1. Before cleanup

Have people and pets leave the room.
Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning (H&AC) system, if you have one.
Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb.

2. During cleanup

Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.

3. After cleanup

Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
For several hours, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the H&AC system shut off.

For more tips on energy efficient lighting, watch The Daily Green's Brian Howard, author of Green Lighting, discuss facts you might not know about home lighting:

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