Fluorescent Bulbs

Lamps containing mercury, including fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), save energy over incandescent bulbs, but their end-of-life can result in adverse impacts on human health and the environment if not handled appropriately. More information on the effects of mercury can be found here. Mercury-containing products cannot be disposed of with regular trash or poured down the drain and must be recycled or managed as a hazardous waste.

Households in Vermont have a low to no-cost method to properly handle mercury products at the end of their useful life. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources oversees manufacturers and retailers’ implementation of their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program to offer free recycling of fluorescent bulbs and mercury thermostats with locations throughout Bennington County. By keeping these bulbs out of landfills mercury stays out of the soil, air, and water reducing the possibility that mercury will accumulate in fish, wildlife, and humans.