Disposal Of Mercury Vapor Light Bulbs

To minimize exposure to mercury vapor epa recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described on this page.

Disposal of mercury vapor light bulbs. There may be a small charge for disposal and pre registration is usually required. Light bulbs that contain even small traces of mercury are considered hazardous and require special disposal procedures. Don t vacuum up the spill or breakage. Include recycling costs in your annual budget.

What not to do after a mercury spill. When a bulb breaks in your home some of this mercury may be released as mercury vapor. Mercury light bulbs fluorescent and high intensity discharge bulbs are energy efficient inexpensive and used in a variety of residential commercial and industrial situations including schools. Keep reading to learn the how to dispose of light bulbs correctly be they incandescents halogens.

Some states and local jurisdictions have more stringent regulations than u s. If you must dispose of a. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled. Cfls and the other light bulbs listed above contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.

If you are a business school or other non household site that is a ceg you can take elemental mercury mercury containing compounds or mercury containing devices for safe disposal to a permanent hhw collection facility or a hhw collection event. This breaks up the mercury into smaller drops increasing its surface area so that more mercury gets into the air and spread around. This will release mercury into the air and greatly increase the level of contamination don t sweep up the mercury or broken glass with a broom. Your area may prohibit disposal and or require recycling.

It is best to call for at least three quotes. The result is that use of cfls releases about 80 per cent less mercury than incandescent light bulbs. Epa does and may require that you recycle cfls and other mercury containing light bulbs. Since a small amount of mercury vapor escapes when the tube breaks.

Vapor control technology and monitoring records.