COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULBS
From the Keene Public Works Website:
Compact fluorescent light bulbs have overwhelming advantages compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs. Switching to compact fluorescent lights is an easy way to save money, reduce energy consumption and limit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars.
There is, however, one tradeoff and that is that compact fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal, and have to be disposed of carefully, especially if they're broken.
As of January 1, 2008 New Hampshire banned the disposal of any "mercury-added" products, including spent compact fluorescent light bulbs and "button-cell" batteries, in landfills, transfer stations or incinerators. So now, instead of throwing those lightbulbs in your household trash, you'll have to recycle them, either through your municipality or a participating retailer.
The City of Keene offers household hazardous waste collections to Acworth residents. The Household Hazardous Waste collection schedule for Acworth will resume in the Summer of 2009. A list of dates will be posted on the Acworthian website.
Please note that if a compact fluorescent light bulb breaks it needs to be handled carefully.
How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?
Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:
1. Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room
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Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
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Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
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Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
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Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
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Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass pieces and powder.
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Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
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Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug:
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Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
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Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
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If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
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Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.:
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If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
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You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
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If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.
5. Disposal of Clean-up Materials
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Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
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Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
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Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.
6. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming
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The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
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Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.
What is mercury?
Mercury is an element (Hg on the periodic table) found naturally in the environment. Mercury emissions in the air can come from both natural and man-made sources. Coal-fired power plants are the largest man-made source because mercury that naturally exists in coal is released into the air when coal is burned to make electricity. Coal-fired power generation accounts for roughly 40 percent of the mercury emissions in the U.S.
The use of CFLs reduces power demand, which helps reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
For more information on all sources of mercury, visit
http://www.epa.gov/mercury
For more information about compact fluorescent bulbs, visit
http://www.energystar.gov/cfls
WHAT ARE MERCURY CONTAINING PRODUCTS?
The disposal of mercury containing products at landfills, transfer stations and incinerators is prohibited in NH. This means these items may not be disposed of as a solid waste with the "normal" garbage. The ban covers products including:
• Thermometers
• Fluorescent lamps
• Thermostats
• Mercury button cell batteries
• Switches and relays
Ace Hardware stores and TrueValue hardware stores have teamed up with the Department of Environmental Services to offer free lamp recycling for New Hampshire residents and small businesses for up to six fluorescent lamps per visit. If you have questions concerning the recycling program, contact Paul Lockwood at (603) 271-2956 or
paul.lockwood@des.nh.gov
For more information about pollution prevention in NH, click here.
