Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I break a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) or other lamp that contains mercury? - Safe clean-up and disposal guidelines
The short term nature of the potential exposure (particularly after effective clean-up of broken CFL material) does not constitute a significant health risk to exposed adults (including pregnant women) or children. However, following these simple and straightforward clean up and disposal instructions as a cautionary approach will further reduce risk:
- Open nearby windows and doors to allow the room to ventilate for 15 minutes before cleaning up the broken lamp. Do not leave on any air conditioning or heating equipment which could recirculate mercury vapours back into the room.
- Do not use a vacuum cleaner or broom on hard surfaces because this can spread the contents of the lamp and contaminate the cleaner. Instead scoop up broken material (e.g. using stiff paper or cardboard), if possible into a glass container which can be sealed with a metal lid.
- Use disposable rubber gloves rather than bare hands.
- Use a disposable brush to carefully sweep up the pieces.
- Use sticky tape and/or a damp cloth to wipe up any remaining glass fragments and/or powders.
- On carpets or fabrics, carefully remove as much glass and/or powdered material using a scoop and sticky tape; if vacuuming of the surface is needed to remove residual material, ensure that the vacuum bag is discarded or the canister is wiped thoroughly clean.
- Dispose of cleanup equipment (i.e. gloves, brush, damp paper) and sealed containers containing pieces of the broken lamp in your outside rubbish bin - never in your recycling bin.
- While not all of the recommended cleanup and disposal equipment described above may be available (particularly a suitably sealed glass container), it is important to emphasise that the transfer of the broken CFL and clean-up materials to an outside rubbish bin (preferably sealed) as soon as possible is the most effective way of reducing potential contamination of the indoor environment.
More information about CFLs and mercury is available in our fact sheet.
How should I dispose of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) at the end of their working life?
At present, CFLs can generally be disposed of in regular garbage bins - where the garbage goes to landfill. You should check with your local authority, responsible for garbage collection, as to its advice on disposal of CFLs as different local authorities may have different arrangements. For example, some garbage is sent to waste processors and this may change the arrangements for disposal. Should you choose to dispose of your CFLs this way then it's best to wrap them in newspaper to prevent them from breaking.
You should not place CFLs in your kerbside recycling collection because they can break during transport and contaminate recyclable items. Several states have household chemical collection programs or drop off points that accept CFLs for recycling. Other states are considering introducing similar schemes.
Detailed information about disposal and recycling, developed with the assistance of the states and territories is available at www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/lamp-mercury.html.
What are governments doing about compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) disposal?
The Environment Protection Heritage Council (EPHC) - which is made up of state, territory, and Commonwealth environment ministers - has investigated the issues associated with the end-of-life management (disposal methods) of CFLs.
At its meeting in May 2009, the EPHC announced its support for Fluoro-cycle, a voluntary partnership between government and industry to increase recycling of mercury-containing lamps. More information about the scheme is available at:
www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/lamp-mercury.html
Energy efficient lights
Energy saving tips
More information about energy efficient lighting:
- Good ideas about lighting - Global Warming Cool it
- Lighting - Your Home Design Guide
- Public lighting - guide for local government
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