JEFFERSON CITY -- These days, we're all looking to save money where we can. That's especially true on our electricity bill.
One way to do that is by switching out an incandescent light bulb to an energy-efficient compact fluorescent one. But there is a potential health hazard inside those bulbs.
CFL's contain mercury and could be harmful to your family and the earth if the bulbs are not disposed of properly.
As long as the bulbs don't break, you shouldn't have any problems. Think twice though before tossing them in the trash or cleaning up a broken bulb.
Experts say even trace amounts of mercury can contaminate drinking water, which is why you should take special steps to get rid of old bulbs.
Put the old bulb in two sealed Ziplock bags before you toss them, even if it's not broken. If it is broken, the Environmental Protection Agency suggests wearing gloves to clean up the pieces you can see and use duct tape to get the rest. And resist the urge to vacuum up the pieces.
"What happens is vacuum cleaners don't always pick up all the particles,” Landon Gilliam, manager at Ace Westlake Hardware, said. “Otherwise, it's gonna be put back into circulation in your vacuum cleaner."
Another option is to recycle the bulbs at a facility that can also recycle the mercury.
Ameren-UE is teaming up with some hardware stores in Missouri to offer free recycling of the bulbs. The Ace Westlake Hardware store in Jefferson City has a bin.
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