Question: Regarding the disposal of CFLs (808ne.ws/528kline), don’t they contain mercury?
Answer: Yes, a small amount, which is one reason the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would rather these bulbs be recycled at the end of their useful lives. That’s not required of residential users on Oahu, however, a fact we noted in Tuesday’s column.
As the World Health Organization explains (808ne.ws/mercury), mercury is a chemical element that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. It poses various health threats to humans, depending on the type and level of exposure. Mercury is released into the environment by natural events such as volcanic eruptions and by human activity such as burning coal. Power plants that burn coal account for 40 percent of mercury emissions from man- made sources in the United States, according to the EPA.
Numerous everyday products contain mercury, including several types of light bulbs. On average, a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) contains about four milligrams of mercury sealed within the glass tubing, a tiny amount compared to the 500 milligrams in an old-style thermometer, the EPA says. Mercury vapor or solids aren’t released unless the bulb breaks. Proper cleanup of a broken CFL is important (don’t vacuum!).
As for intact, used bulbs, the EPA recommends recycling, but also offers disposal tips for those not required to do so, which would include residential users on Oahu. The EPA says to seal the used bulb in a plastic bag and put it in an outdoor garbage bin. Advice from the city’s Department of Environmental Services is slightly different. It says householders may wrap used CFL bulbs in newspaper and put them with the regular trash that goes in the gray bin, or drop them off at the city’s Household Hazardous Waste bimonthly event by appointment.
Q: How do you clean up a broken CFL?
A: Find detailed instructions from the EPA at 808ne.ws/cflcleanup, but here’s a summary:
Before you start cleaning up:
Have people and pets leave the room.
Open a window or door to the outdoors and air out the room for five to 10 minutes.
If you have a forced-air system running, turn it off (air conditioning or heat).
Gather cleaning supplies: Stiff paper or cardboard; duct tape; damp paper towels or disposable wipes (for hard surfaces); glass jar with a metal lid or sealable plastic bags.
During cleanup
Do not vacuum. Vacuuming could spread mercury vapor or powder. Vacuum only if broken glass remains after all other cleaning steps have been followed.
Scoop up glass fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard. Use tape to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Wipe hard surfaces.
Place all bulb debris and cleanup materials in a sealable container (jar or bag).
After cleanup
Immediately place sealed container outdoors in a trash container or protected area. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors. If practical, continue to air out the room for several hours, and leave the forced-air system off (in Hawaii, this usually means air conditioning).
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
If you have questions, call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
Q: What other types of light bulbs contain mercury?
A: Here’s a list from the EPA, which says the CFL disposal guidelines apply to all of them:
>> Fluorescent bulbs: linear, U-tube and circline fluorescent tubes; bug zappers; tanning bulbs; black lights; germicidal bulbs; high output bulbs and cold-cathode fluorescent bulbs.
>> High intensity discharge bulbs: metal halide; ceramic metal halide; high pressure sodium, and mercury vapor.
>> Mercury short-arc bulbs
>>Neon bulbs
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
