Tip on CFL Bulb Safety

Any of us could be faced with cleaning up a broken CFL bulb or a broken mercury thermometer, so we need to be familiar with the hazards ahead of time. Read the EPA guidelines now at http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/. It's important to note that in cleaning up a broken fluorescent bulb (CFL or otherwise) you should

1. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
2. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up pieces of the broken bulb.
3. If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder, throw it away!
4. Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
5. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

When CFL bulbs burn out, don't throw them away. The mercury can be hazardous in landfills. Take them to a place that recycles them - Home Depot and Ikea are pioneers in accepting them to recycle.