Fluorescent Lights

Question or Comment?

Fluorescent lights contain a gas that produces invisible ultraviolet light (UV) when the gas is excited by electricity. The UV light hits the white (phosphorus) coating inside the bulb and produces light.

Incandescent bulbs are connected directly to line voltage through a light fixture. Fluorescent bulbs use a ballast which transforms line voltage to the special type of voltage to start up and operate the bulb(s).

Turning a fluorescent bulb on and off frequently can shorten the life of a bulb. New fluorescent bulbs may be whiter and brighter than an old bulb.

How to Clean Up Broken Fluorescent Bulbs

Be very careful when handling fluorescent bulbs. Here are recommendations from the EPA for cleaning up a broken CFL.

The EPA’s instructions for cleaning up a broken CFL:

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

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 system, if you have one.
Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb:

stiff paper or cardboard
sticky tape
damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces)
a glass jar with a metal lid or a sealable plastic bag.

During Cleanup

DO NOT VACUUM. Vacuuming is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken. Vacuuming could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor.
Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder. Scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag.
Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.

After Cleanup

Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
Next, check with your local government about disposal requirements in your area, because some localities require fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center. If there is no such requirement in your area, you can dispose of the materials with your household trash.
If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.

How to Dispose of Fluorescent Lights

Fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and are considered household hazardous waste. Most states allow households to place compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in the trash.

Recycling is a much better option for the environment. It is convenient to drop off used CFLs at certain home improvement stores. Fluorescent lights can be dropped off at community recycling events, or a hazardous waste collection center. They can also be dropped off at Batteries Plus for a fee.

Fluorescent tubes should not be disposed of in the trash. Home improvement stores normally accept only CFLs for recycling. However, if you call the electrical department of your local home improvement store, ask if you can drop off these tubes, they may accept them. Otherwise see www.earth911.org for fluorescent tube recycling locations.

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

Fluorescent Tubes