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Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs- The Benefits & Proper Disposal

The Village has partned with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County to implement a CFL Recycling Program.  CFLs contain small amounts of mercury that are best left out of our landfills.  To recycle your bulbs, simply bring them to the Fire Department Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  For further information on mercury and proper disposal of CFLs, see below.

The Benefits of CFLs:

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with qualified Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

Energy Star qualified CFLs:

-Energy Star qualified bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

-Save about $30 or more in electricity cost over each bulb's lifetime.

-Produce about 75 percent less heat, so they're safer to operate and can cut energy cost associated with home cooling.

-Are available in different sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture, for indoors and outdoors.

How to choose and where to use CFLs:

Energy Star qualified CFLs provide the greatest savings in fixtures that are on for a substantial amount of time each day.  At minimum, Energy Star recommends installing qualified CFLs in fixtures that are used at least 15 minutes at a time or several hours per day.  The best fixtures to use qualified CFLs in are found in the following areas of your home:

• Family and Living rooms
• Kitchen
• Dining Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Outdoors

How to choose the right light:

Matching the right CFL to the right kind of fixture helps ensure that it will perform properly and last a long time.  For example:

• CFLs perform best in open fixtures that allow airflow, such as table and floor lamps, wall scones, pendants, and outdoor fixtures.
• For recessed fixtures, it is better to use a reflector CFL than a spiral CFL since the design of the reflector evenly distributes the light down to your task area.
• If a light fixture is connected to a dimmer or three-way switch, you'll need to use a special qualified CFL designed to work in these applications.  Make sure to look for CFLs that specify use with dimmers or three-way fixtures.
• Choose a qualified CFL that offers a shade of white light that works best for you.  For example, while most CFLs provide warm or soft white light for your home, you could choose a cooler color for task lighting.
• To choose the qualified CFL with the right amount of light, find a qualified CFL that is labeled as equivalent to the incandescent bulb you are replacing. Light bulb manufactures include this information right on the product packaging to make it easy for consumers to choose the equivalent bulb.  Common terms include "Soft White 60" or "60 Watt Replacement".

You should also check the lumen rating to find the right CFL.  The higher the lumen rating, the greater the light output. 

Do CFLs contain mercury?

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing, an average of 5 milligrams, about the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen.  By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury.  It would take 100 CFLs to equal that amount.

Mercury currently is an essential component of CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source.  No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use.  Many manufactures have taken significant steps to reduce mercury used in their fluorescent lighting products. In fact, the average amount of mercury in a CFL is anticipated to drop by the end of 2007 thanks to technology advances and a commitment from members of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

Where can I dispose of fluorescent light bulbs?

The Village is working with SWANCC to establish a collection site in Lincolnwood.  Until this site is established residents can dispose of CFLs at the Goose Island HCW Facility in Chicago.  The facility is located at 1150 N. Branch Street and can be contacted at 312-744-4034. 

Hours of operation are:

Tuesday: 7:00 am - 12:00 pm

Thursday: 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm

1st Saturday of the month: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?

CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled.  Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it.  Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base (not the glass).

What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?

Residents can dispose of CFLs through the Lincolnwood Fire Department or can check the following websites to identify local recycling options:  www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?

The following steps can be performed by the general public:

1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.

2. Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag

-Use disposable rubber gloves, if available (i.e. do not use bare hands).  Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag.

-Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces

3. Place all cleanup materials in a second sealed plastic bag.

-Place the first bag in a second sealed plastic bag and put it in the outdoor trash container or in another outdoor protected area for the next normal trash disposal.

-Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.

4. If a fluorescent bulb breaks on a rug or carpet:

-First, remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner, following the steps above.  Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.

-If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag or vacuum debris in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected locations for normal disposal.

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.