Things You'll Need:
- Cardboard boxes
- Plastic trash bags
- Duct tape
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Step 1
Collect a few large cardboard boxes in which to store the bulbs. For long tubes, such as those found in overhead office and warehouse lighting, try to get the original boxes that the bulbs came in, although any long box will work. Boxes ranging in size from shoe boxes to TV boxes are sufficient for CFLs.
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Step 2
Line the inside of the boxes with trash bags and use the duct tape to secure the plastic. This will help prevent the mercury powder and vapors from spreading from the box or seeping into the cardboard. Place these boxes in a location such as a shed or garage. Do not keep them in living areas.
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Step 3
Remove fluorescent bulbs when they are burned out. Be sure to handle them with care, being careful not to squeeze them or drop them. Place long tubes in the long boxes and CFLs in the smaller boxes.
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Step 4
Gather bulbs from friends and neighbors to increase the number that you can recycle. When the boxes are filled, it is time to send the bulbs away for recycling. You can call local stores that sell fluorescent bulbs to determine if they will accept them or you can call your local waste management office.
In the Resources section of this article, you can find a website to locate local recycling locations. There is also a link to a company that handles fluorescent bulb recycling by mail.
