Leewood Times Guide to Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

Guide To Compact Fluorescent Bulb
Recycling & Clean up

How do I prepare one compact fluorescent bulb for recycling?

Carefully remove bulb from lighting appliance. Always screw and unscrew the bulb by its base, not the glass. Place unbroken bulb in original packaging if available.

Where can I take it?

Unbroken compact fluorescent bulbs may be taken to the returns desk of any Home Depot Store. See individual store for details. Compact fluorescent bulbs may be taken to the I-66 Transfer Station Complex and the I-95 Landfill Complex household hazardous waste sites during scheduled dates and times only. In addition, the bulbs are accepted at household hazardous waste collection events.

Call 703-324-5230, TTY 711 for more information.

What can I do if a bulb breaks?

DO NOT vacuum broken fluorescent bulbs!! While CFLs contain only a trace amount of mercury, safety must be taken into consideration when cleaning up a broken CFL.

Here are the steps you should take in cleaning up CFLs

Step 1: Open a window and leave the room for at least 15 minutes.

Step 2: Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.
Wear disposable rubber gloves. Scoop up fragments with stiff paper or cardboard. Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.

Step 3: Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it. Seal CFL particles in two plastic bags and place outside with your normal trash collection. Wash your hands.

NOTE: The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, be sure to remove the bag or empty and wipe the canister clean

Top of Page

Help sometimes comes at a price or with a hidden agenda, but our helpful guides have neither. We hope that the information in our Leewood Times Guides give you starting points and focus. Our goal is to assist you in making informed decisions.

Here are the links to all the Leewood Times Guides…

345 Money Saving Tips

Leewood Times 75 Money Saving Travel Tips

Leewood Times 2008 Winter Guide

Leewood Times Bar-B-Que Tips & Tricks

Leewood Times Employment Guide

Leewood Times Energy Saving Tips Winter / Summer

Leewood Times Guide to Credit Repair

Leewood Times Guide to Fall Festivals

Leewood Times Guide to Going Green

Leewood Times Guide to Holiday Entertaining

Leewood Times Guide to Local Farmers Markets

Leewood Times Guide to New Years Resolutions