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Health Department
Health and Community Services
43525 Elizabeth Road, Mount Clemens, MI 48043
(586) 469-5235

Mercury-Containing Fluorescent Bulb Recycling

The Macomb County Health Department accepts mercury-containing fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) from Macomb County residents through the Household Hazard Waste collection. The mercury in the lamps is recovered and recycled which prevents it from ending up in landfills.

For collection dates, times and locations click here.

What is a Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL)?

  • A fluorescent light bulb made to be used in the same manner as traditional incandescent bulbs.
  • Compared to an incandescent bulb, a CFL:
    -provides the same amount of light
    -uses less energy
    -produces less heat
    -lasts about 5 to 15 times longer

cflbulb_000.jpg

Mercury in Fluorescent Lighting

  • Mercury is an essential compound for fluorescent lamps to emit light. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that mercury-containing fluorescent lamps account for 3.8% of all mercury going into landfills.

  • Lamps containing mercury become hazardous to human health and our environment when it is broken in a way that allows the mercury to escape.

When replacing fluorescent lamps look for lamps that contain low amounts of mercury. These lamps will be marked with a green tip or labeled as "low mercury".

Clean-up of Broken Compact Fluorescent Lights

Information on broken compact fluorescents lamps can be found at

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/CFL_Fact_Sheet_193840_7.pdf 

For information on disposal of compact fluorescent bulbs click here for the household hazard waste collection schedule to view collection dates, times and locations.

Questions?

If you have any questions, call us at 586-469-5236, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. or

E-mail us now.

Other Resources

Energy Star products:
http://www.energystar.gov