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CFL Bulbs: About Disposal and Recycling
Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury, so do not put used CFLs in the garbage. While the amount of mercury in a single bulb is extremely small, it will harm the environment if large numbers of bulbs are disposed of in landfills.
Find a CFL recycling location near you
Select PSE offices, community locations, participating retail stores and county household hazardous waste facilities recycle CFL bulbs for free and PSE supported locations will now be taking incandescent bulbs for recycling.
Click here to find recycling locations near you.
Mercury facts
Mercury is an essential component of CFL bulbs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use. The mercury is sealed within the glass tubing—an average of 5 milligrams. In comparison, older thermometers contain about 1,000 milligrams of mercury. Manufacturers are taking steps to reduce mercury in their fluorescent lighting products; some CFL bulbs now have as little as 2 milligrams.
| Products |
Average amount of mercury |
|---|
| Average CFL bulbs, including ENERGY STAR® qualified CFL bulbs |
Less than 5 mg
Size comparison of mercury found in a typical CFL bulb sold in the U.S. |
| Button cell batteries used in watches, hearing aids, some toys and calculators |
9 mg |
| Street lighting |
30 mg |
| Fever thermometer |
1,000 mg |
| Blood pressure monitor |
110,000 mg |
What if a CFL bulb breaks?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers detailed instructions for safely cleaning up and disposing of broken CFL bulbs. Visit
epa.gov/cfl for current instructions.
For more information, read the CFL bulb recycling flier