What to do if a compact fluorescent lightbulb breaks

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin. If a bulb breaks, follow these instructions, as recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

• Open the windows and leave the room for at least 15 minutes.
• If the bulb breaks on a hard floor, don't vacuum or sweep the mess. Instead, wear disposable rubber gloves and use cardboard or stiff paper to scoop up the debris. Then clean the area with a damp paper towel.
• If the bulb breaks on a rug or carpeting, use sticky tape to pick up any compact fluorescent bulb fragments and powder. Then vacuum the area if necessary.
• Place the debris and cleanup materials into a plastic bag and seal it. Place that bag into another plastic bag and seal it.
• When you go to your town's recycling center or waste-collection facility, place the bag (or unbroken bulbs) bulbs in the appropriate hazardous-waste bin, or bring them to a recycling collection point, like the Home Depot.
• Only if no other disposal or recycling options exist and only if your municipality allows it, place bagged compact fluorescent bulbs in the trash outside.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
• After vacuuming the area for the first time, remove the vacuum bag or empty and wipe the collection bin. Put the bag or debris into a plastic bag and seal it. Then put that bag into another plastic bag and seal it. Place in the trash outside. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.

Although it's rare, some compact fluorescent lightbulbs smoke, smell, or darken at the base when they burn out. Currently, all CFL materials must be self-extinguishing, so they won't catch fire, according to the Energy Star program.

If one of your compact fluorescent lightbulbs meets such a dramatic end, turn off power to it. Once the bulb has cooled, remove it. Then send an e-mail message with a photo of the affected CFL and its make and model to cfl@energystar.gov.