Recycling Compact Flourent bulbs?

[OhNo123]

I have so many of these bulbs that have lost it's juice. I don't want to just dump the into the trash since they contain mercury, so where should i dispose of them?

By the way, where is the mercury in the bulb located? In the spirally part or the base?

[Bk718]

I believe this is how they recycle them LINK (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuHwCD8K1hY&feature=related)

[Que]

I have so many of these bulbs that have lost it's juice. I don't want to just dump the into the trash since they contain mercury, so where should i dispose of them?

By the way, where is the mercury in the bulb located? In the spirally part or the base?

The only place I know that recycles them is IKEA stores. The mercury is in the spiral tube part.

Q

[Squawkbert]

I'd check w/ your local city hall, trash disposal service and hardware store(s)...

[Bobnova]

I'd check w/ your local city hall, trash disposal service and hardware store(s)...


Them're the ones.
They'll either do it themselves (the one in my area does), or they will know the correct place.

Keep in mind that all fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, not just the CFLs.

[Sploke]

http://www.lamprecycle.org/

[Mgamer20o0]

we have a hazardous waste round up where they take old comps oil and what ever you shouldnt toss.

[dudley]

I keep a box in my garage for dead fluorescent bulbs AND batteries that contain mercury. The county I live in has a central processing facility where I can take them for free. I just wait til the box is full.

[Fishy_Fun]

i feel so bad when i just throw away bulbs and batteries.hmm i should take them in too.on your question though i would do the above stated

[leoslizards]

I've never done this before. I just throw them away. What does mercury do to the planet? Why is it harmful?

[jmhart]

I've never done this before. I just throw them away. What does mercury do to the planet? Why is it harmful?

Mercury exposure can cause: death, birth defects, brain kidney and lung damage, loss of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea...the list goes on and on depending on level and duration of exposure.

How you can be exposed: Breathing vapors, eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, and skin contact.

It's not so much straight up elemental mercury you have to worry about, but it's when mercury starts to form other compounds, which can happen very easily.

It's bad stuff. In extreme cases, such as exposure to methylmercury, death can occur within 24 hours.

Methylmercury is thought to be created as mercury is passed up the food chain: water contamination--->algae plankton--->fish--->bigger fish--->human === death.

So it's not so much the mercury in your lamps by itself, it's more about controlling where they mercury goes after you are done with it.

[FtwayneFish]

I say you take the old bulbs and sword fight with them like I used to do when me and my bro were kids dumpster diving in the shopping centers by us. Guess thats why im goofy lol. Man I bet we broke 20 bulbs over each other in that span lol.

But to answer with some help lol, my hardware stores take care of them for me.

[downloader]

try home depot

[Bobnova]

For reference, there is no known "safe" exposure mercury.
Which is to say, a nanogram is still harmful.