Recyle Your CFL Bulbs

Puget Sound Energy is running a CFL Bulb Drive. Any local business with twenty or more employees can host a free PSE CFL bulb collection box. Employees, neighbors and customers can bring in spent CFL bulbs to be recycled. PSE's goal is to keep 50,000 CFL bulbs out of landfills this year. You can sign up on their website or give them a call. 1-888-225-5773 or www.PSE.com/bulbdrive

CFL bulbs contain mercury. They should always be recycled or disposed of at a household hazardous waste facility. Bartell Drugs, Lowes, Home Depot and Ikea offer CFL recycle services.

If you hapen to break a CFL bulb you will need to follow specific steps to clean it up safely. Start by airing out the room for 15 minutes and turning off your central heating system. Do not walk through the debris. Carefully pick up the large broken pieces and place them in a glass jar. Use packing or duct tape to pick up the smaller pieces. Place the tape in the jar with the larger pieces and seal the jar with a metal lid. If you absolutely need to vacuum, throw away the vacuum bag, sealed in a plastic bag, when you are done. Wash your hands thoroughly. Dispose of the debris at the local household hazardous waste facility.