Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) contain mercury material and should be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner and not thrown in the trash or garbage. There are small amounts of mercury material in the CFLs that should not be released into the environment.

Homeowners should handle the bulbs safely and dispose of these bulbs in an environmentally safe way by delivering all fluorescent bulbs to

• the Authority’s household hazardous waste collection facility on Leland Ave. in Utica, Monday – Saturday,
• the Jay-K Lumber store on Seneca Turnpike in New Hartford,
• the Town of Marcy Town Hall at 8801 Paul Becker Road,
• the Town of Marcy Mohawk Street Pump Station/Codes Enforcement Office on Scharbach Drive,
• the Ace Hardware Company of Rome at 115 Black River Blvd. in Rome
• the Carpenter's Paint and Hardware Store at 59 Main Street in Camden, or
• the City of Sherrill DPW Garage at 210 Elmwood Place in Sherrill on Friday 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

IF YOU BREAK A FLUORESCENT BULB USE THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE:

1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
2. Turn off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-up steps for hard surfaces:

1. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar or mayonnaise jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
3. Wipe area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.
4. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up steps for carpeting or rug:

1. Carefully pick up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar or mayonnaise jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
3. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
4. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister with a damp paper towel), and put the bag, vacuum debris and paper towel in a sealed plastic bag.

Disposal of clean-up materials:

1. Immediately place all clean-up materials outside the building in a trash container or outdoor protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
2. Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.

Future cleaning of carpeting or rugs:

1. For at least the next few times you vacuum, turn off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to vacuuming.
2. Keep the central heating/air conditioning system turned off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.