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Energy Efficiency »
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) At KEC we have members ask about the risks of replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs. As your energy experts we want to make sure you know the facts. CFLs are made of glass tubing containing mercury. The early generation CFL bulbs contain about 4 milligrams of mercury. Classic thermometers contain 500 milligrams, far more than a CFL. Newer CFLs contain as little as 1.4 milligrams according to the Department of Energy, however you should still take precautions in handling them. If a CFL breaks, mercury vapors may pose health risks. Please see the information below on how to handle CFLs. Quick Guide to Cleaning Up a Broken CFLThe most important steps to reduce exposure to mercury vapor from a broken bulb are: Before Cleanup • Have people and pets leave the room. • Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment. • Shut off the central forced air heating/air conditioning (HVAC) system, if you have one. • Collect materials (stiff paper/cardboard, sticky tape, damp paper towels/wet wipes) needed to clean up broken bulb. During Cleanup • Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder. • Place cleanup materials in a sealable container (plastic bag or glass jar). After Cleanup • Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials out-doors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb frag-ments or cleanup materials indoors. • Not all recycling centers accept broken CFLs and some states may have prohibitions on disposal of debris. Check with your local and/or state household hazardous waste au-thority for disposal requirements in your area. • For several hours, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the HVAC system shut off. For more detailed guidance on cleaning up and safely disposing of a broken CFL, please visit: www.epa.gov/cflcleanup. Where to Recycle CFLsKEC - Bring your CFLs to our office and we will recycle them for you. Home Depot 220 W Kathleen Ave Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815 (208)676-1441 Waste Management CFL Recycling Kits Waste Management’s (WM) innovative CFL Recycling Kit can help you keep the bulbs out of landfills and allow the mercury to be safely re-claimed and reused. Their kit is a combination storage-and-shipping box with an interior Mercury VaporLok® bag. It’s the safest way to store the bulbs in your home until you have enough to ship back. Order your kit online and ship them back to WM through the U.S. Postal Service. Postage is already paid and the shipping label is attached. Each kit costs $16.95 and holds up to 13 13-watt CFL bulbs. For more information call WM at 1.866.699.6466 or visit www.thinkgreenfromhome.com |
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2451 W Dakota Ave
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Hayden, ID 83835
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