If I drop a bulb and it breaks, is there any harm from mercury contamination? And how do I dispose of the broken pieces of the bulb?

Margaret Barker
March 1, 2007
Environmental Science
Passaic County Community College


Compact fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury. The mercury poses no threat while in the bulb, but if you break one of these bulbs, be careful and do not inhale the mercury, Using a wet rag, clean it up immediately and put the rag as well as the broken pieces into a plastic bag.

Although household CFL bulbs can be disposed of within regular trash pickups, they are categorized as household hazardous waste. As long as the waste is sent to a modern landfill, the hazard to the environment is limited. However, CFL’s should not be sent to an incinerator. The mercury would be dispersed into the atmosphere if the bulb would be burned.

It is suggested that you save old CFLs until your town or county holds a hazardous waste collection day. The collected bulbs would then be sent to facilities capable of treating, recovering or recycling them. If you are interested in obtaining any additional information on the disposal or recycling of CFLs contact your local municipality.

For additional information on CFLs go to www:eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm#3c