Energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs can save you money on your electricity bills and help protect the environment.
Benefits of using fluorescent light bulbs
- A fluorescent bulb producing the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb uses about 75 percent less energy and lasts up to 10 times longer.
- Using a compact fluorescent bulb saves an average of $30 in electricity costs over its lifetime and prevents the release of more than 450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reducing your energy consumption with fluorescent lighting results in less mercury pollution, which is caused by using fossil fuels to produce electricity.
Properly disposing of fluorescent light bulbs
Because they contain mercury, fluorescent bulbs of all shapes and sizes must be recycled to avoid polluting the environment and posing a health threat. Even a small amount of mercury released into the environment is a concern.
In Minnesota it is illegal to place any mercury-containing products or device in the trash or wastewater disposal system. All items containing mercury, including fluorescent light bulbs, must be recycled.
To dispose of fluorescent light bulbs:
- Check with local retailers. Many local retailers and hardware stores offer easy and convenient recycling options to households for CFL bulbs.
- Bring them to a drop-off facility. Hennepin County accepts all types of fluorescent, high intensity discharge, neon bulbs and ballasts free of charge at the county drop-off facilities. There is a limit of 25 bulbs per household per year. Fluorescent bulbs are collected from households only; no fluorescent bulbs are accepted from businesses.
- Check the A to Z How-to-Get-Rid-of-It Guide for more disposal information.
For more information, see the Fluorescent Light Bulbs factsheet (pdf 313KB).
