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Compact fluorescent light bulbs can be disposed of during the Household Hazard Waste Collection site on Saturday January 24, 2009 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the Citrus County Central Landfill.

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Hazardous Materials Awareness Week Promotes the Safe Use and Disposal of Compact Fluorescent Lamps

Compact fluorescent lamps are small fluorescent light bulbs that can be screwed into a regular light socket. They use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. However, these money and energy saving lamps contain a very small amount of potentially hazardous mercury.

District five Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) believes it is important that Florida residents know how we can safely use and recycle compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in our homes. A hazardous materials response team does not need to be called if a bulb is broken.

In Florida, LEPCs have a responsibility to help increase chemical safety in our communities. The LEPC serves five counties of the Withlacoochee Region and is staffed by the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council. LEPC Members are from a wide variety of occupational backgrounds.

January 18-24, 2009, has been declared as Hazardous Materials Awareness Week statewide by Florida Governor Charlie Crist. A goal this year is to encourage the public to safely use and dispose of light bulbs that contain very small amounts of potentially hazardous mercury. This includes being able to safely clean-up a broken bulb.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, it would save enough energy to light more than three million homes for a year. This would also prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 800,000 cars.

Each CFL contains a very small amount of mercury, usually around 5 milligrams, or about the amount that would cover the tip of a ball-point pen. In comparison, a mercury fever thermometer contains about one hundred times as much.

To find a place to recycle these bulbs and other household hazardous waste items in your community, visit www.Earth911.com to learn about the recycling options near your home.

CFL RECYCLING LOCATIONS

The LEPC is working with both public and private partners in promoting the safe use of CFLs, in the State of Florida. The following locations are accepting CFLs during the week of January 18-24, 2009:

Household Hazard Waste Collection site on Saturday January 24, 2009 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the Citrus County Central Landfill.

Participating Home Depot stores state wide

Instructions on how to safely perform a clean-up are available on the LEPC web site (ncflepc.org) and at public and private Hazardous Materials Awareness Week partners which are collecting CFLs for recycling.

For more additional information, contact LEPC Coordinator Michael Arnold at MArnold@wrpc.cc or call (352) 732-1315, Ext. 228.

CLEAN-UP INSTRUCTIONS

If a CFL or other fluorescent lamp should break in your home, the Florida Department of Environ-mental Protection recommends the following guidelines for clean-up:

Do not use a broom or a vacuum to clean-up a mercury spill!

1. Ventilate the room

Open a window. Leave the room and restrict access for at least 30 minutes. If available, point a floor or pedestal fan at the open window. Using a ceiling fan will not be as helpful at moving the air out of the window.

2. Pick up all materials you can

Wear disposable gloves. Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder. Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.

3. Double bag and recycle

Place the broken CFL and clean-up materials in doubled plastic bags and seal the bags. Take the materials to a local household hazardous waste center or collection event, a fluorescent lamp recycling facility, or put into the household trash stored outside if no other recycling options are available.

4. Wash your hands