The Proper Care and Feeding of CFLs

Thanks for doing the right thing and purchasing (or otherwise putting your hands on) some energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs!

Now you need to read just a little about the proper use and disposal of these bulbs, because it's a bit different from the old light bulbs (incandescent lamps) you grew up with. The main reason is that there's a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing, and mercury in many situations is not good for you or the environment.

Using your CFL bulb
CFLs can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from packaging, placing it into or removing it from a fixture, and handling it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. It's best not to put CFLs in lamps that might be knocked over by children or pets. For the greatest energy (and energy bill) savings, use the CFL in high-use fixtures like your bathroom, kitchen or porch lights. For cleanup instructions on broken bulbs, see the U.S. EPA flyer listed further on.

Proper recycling of your CFL bulb
Don't throw CFL lightbulbs in the trash! This is extremely important due to their mercury content!

Don't put CFL bulbs into regular recycling bins, like curbside blue boxes! They need to be taken to special recycling places. Your first choice should be to take them back to stores that sell them. IKEA takes back CFLs at all their locations, as does Home Depot in Canada. Ace Hardware stores in many markets will accept CFLs for recycling as well. Ask sales people to please send the spent bulbs back to the manufacturer. As a last resort, contact your local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to find publicly-subsidized recycling options near you.

Download: The Sierra Club's CFL Guidelines (PDF)
Many Sierra Club chapters and groups will engage in community-based programs to distribute energy-efficient CFL lightbulbs. This spring, Club activists will go door-to-door giving them away in neighborhoods across the country. These guidelines provide tips on selecting environmentally-preferable CFL lightbulbs for mass giveaways and recycling as well as more information on making personal choices for CFLs.

Download this U.S. EPA flyer to read more details about the mercury in CFL bulbs and how to properly clean-up a broken CFL.

For further information, contact your local Sierra Club Chapter or Group, or the national volunteer program:
cfl.guidelines@sierraclub.org.