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Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should people use CFLs?
- Do CFLs contain mercury?
- What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?
- What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?
- How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?
- What is mercury?
- What does Consumer Reports say about CFL safety?
Why should people use CFLs?
Switching from traditional light bulbs to CFLs is an effective, accessible change every American can make right now to reduce energy use at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill. Changing to CFLs costs little upfront and provides a quick return on investment.
If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars.
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 manufacturers 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.
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), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If a CFL breaks in your home, follow the clean-up recommendations below. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly (see below).
What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?
Like paint, batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage. Household hazardous wastes in Jacksonville cannot be collected curbside. JEA customers who live outside of Duval, St. Johns and Clay counties should contact their local municipal solid waste agency for CFL recycling information. Remember: CFLs should not be disposed of in an incinerator.
NOTE: ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a two-year warranty. If the bulb fails within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.
In Duval County:
City of Jacksonville Household Hazardous Waste Facility
2675 Commonwealth Ave.
(904) 387-8847
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday from 8AM-5PM
Closed Sunday and Monday
Note: To report illegal dumping of household hazardous waste, please call 665-8025.
In St. John’s County:
The Tillman Ridge Facility
3005 Allen Nease Rd.
Elkton, Florida
(904) 827-6980
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday from 7AM-6PM
Saturday & Sunday from 7AM-4PM
Palm Valley Fire Station
130 Canal Boulevard
Hours of Operation: Every Tuesday from 9AM-12PM
Crescent Beach Fire Station
5865 A1A South
Hours of Operation: Every Wednesday from 9 AM-12 PM
Switzerland Fire Station
1120 Sheffield Road
Hours of Operation: Every Thursday from 9 AM-12 PM
Or recycle at one of the Community Collection Days (CCD) events. You can access the schedule by calling (904) 827-6980 or by clicking here to visit their website. http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/BCC/Solid_Waste/events.aspx
In Clay County:
The Clay County Household Hazardous Waste Center
Rosemary Hill SWMF
3545 Rosemary Hill Road
Green Cove Spring
(904) 284-6374 or (904) 269-6374
Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday from 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?
The following steps can be performed by the general public:
- Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
- 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.
Note: Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
- 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.
- 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 outdoor location 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.
EPA is implementing policies to reduce airborne mercury emissions. Under regulations EPA issued in 2005, mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants will drop by nearly 70 percent by 2018.
For more information on all sources of mercury, visit http://www.epa.gov/mercury.
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