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The New CFL Light Bulb Cleanup and Disposal Procedure

See what you should do if a CFL light bulb breaks near you.
Today, nearly all households in the United States are using at least one CFL light bulb and as CFLs become more popular, the worry over their health risk becomes a larger issue. All CFL light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury which when broken the mercury can be released in the air as mercury vapor. Unfortunately the mercury vapors from the light bulb will continue to be released until cleaned up and properly disposed of.
In order to minimize the exposure to the mercury, it’s highly recommended that the following steps are followed during the clean and disposal of the CFL light bulb.
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CFL Light Bulb Cleanup and Disposal Overview
Prior to Cleanup
1. Completely vacate the room.
2. Air out the room exposing it to the outdoor environments for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Shut off your Air Conditioning or Heating Systems.
4. Gather the materials need to clean up the broken light bulb(s).
Cleanup
1. Completely collect and clean up broken glass and visible powder.
2. Seal the broken glass and powder in a sealable bag or container.
After Cleanup
1. Place the sealed package into an outside container until it can be disposed of.
2. Continue to air out the room in which the bulb broke for several hours.