The Delaware Energy Office has a statewide initiative to encourage Delawareans to recycle used, unbroken compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs by taking them to a drop-off location for disposal. Citizens are urged to place used, unbroken CFLs in a plastic sandwich bag and bring them to a drop-off location. Locations for dropping off used CFLs can be found below. The bulbs will be packaged and transported to a licensed recycling center where the mercury will be reclaimed and the glass and metal will be recycled.
Click here for a list of CFL recycling locations in Delaware
In addition, the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) holds household hazardous waste collection days at locations throughout the state. You also may bring your bulbs to one these locations.
CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, so recycling them is the best way to maximize safety and protect the environment. Mercury is an essential part of CFLs; it allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. A CFL bulb contains an average of 4 milligrams of mercury – about the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. By contrast, an old thermometer contains about 500 milligrams of mercury – the amount equal to the mercury in 125 CFL bulbs. No mercury is released by the bulbs when handled property and unbroken. However, if broken and discarded in a landfill, CFL bulbs can release mercury into the environment.
For a fact sheet on compact fluorescent bulbs and mercury, click here.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are an extremely energy-efficient and cost-effective lighting option. Fluorescent bulbs use 66 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a CFL bulb, enough energy would be saved to light more than three million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars annually. Replacing a 60-watt standard bulb with a 13-watt fluorescent bulb will save at least $24 in energy costs over the life of the bulb and last up to 10 times longer.
In 2006, the Delaware Energy Office gave away more than 140,000 CFL bulbs as part of the kick-off of the Delaware Energy An$wers Program. The free lightbulb campaign, "Flip the Switch, Delaware…and Save!" was a partnership between the Delaware Division of Libraries and DNREC’s Delaware Energy Office to distribute the bulbs throughout the state.
For more information contact the Delaware Energy Office at 302-735-3480.
