I hate to make your world more complex, but today’s world is pretty complex. A compact flourescent lightbulb (CFL) is a great energy saving device and no home should be using the energy hog old lightbulb technology. However, CFLs contain trace amounts of a toxic element, mercury.
This makes 2 things more complex about CFLs:
1) Disposal - the mercury must be recycled, not landfilled where it can enter the environment and contaminate the fish we eat. Soooo - you must bring any burnt out CFLs either to special collection sites in your town (call town hall to find out where these may be set up), or to your towns household haz waste collection day or to Ikea, the furniture store in New Haven area.
2) Cleanup of a broken bulb: this needs to be done carefully and without vacuuming to avoid spreading the mercury around the house. Most of the mercury will adhere to the broken glass so it can be carefully handpicked and disposed of. The first step is to get kids and pets out of the room, open the windows and then read the CT DPH fact sheet on how to safely do-it-yourself cleanup of the spill.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
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