No EPA guidelines on disposal of broken CFL bulbs

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it has not been asked to prepare guidelines on handling broken low-energy light bulbs, despite the issuing of strict warning from the British department of the environment in relation to their disposal.

The CFL bulbs (compact fluorescent light bulbs), which Minister for the Environment John Gormley wants to see in every home from next year, contain mercury and are classed as hazardous waste under the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.

A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said yesterday that it may in the future ask the EPA to produce CFL safety guidelines and said people could consult the internet for advice in the interim.

The British department for environment food and rural affairs (Defra) has issued guidelines in relation to the safe disposal of broken CFL bulbs. If a bulb is smashed, the room must be vacated for 15 minutes. On return the debris should be collected using rubber gloves and placed in a sealed plastic bag, which should then be taken to the local council for disposal.

A vacuum cleaner should not be used to clear up the debris and care should be taken not to inhale any dust. The remains of the broken bulb should not be placed in a domestic bin, nor should any intact CFL bulb. A Defra spokeswoman said yesterday that it did not want to alarm the public but it was important to be aware of correct handling procedures for he bulbs, because they contained mercury. The bulbs were, however, sturdier than traditional light bulbs and less likely to shatter, she said.

Mr Gormley last December announced his intention to ban traditional light bulbs from 2009. He made the announcement as part of his carbon budget, an addendum to the full Budget, and said he intended to lead the way in Europe in banning traditional bulbs in the same way Ireland took the lead in introducing the plastic bag levy and smoking ban.

The EPA said it was the agency with responsibility for implementing the WEEE directive and as such would be responsible for drawing up guidelines in relation to the safe disposal of CFL bulbs; however, it had not been asked to.

"The way we work is that the Government asks us to draw up guidelines and we go from there. We haven't been asked to do that in relation to the CFLs, but the best advice we can give at the moment is to simply sweep it up into the cardboard box the new bulb has come in and bring it back to the supplier. Under the WEEE directive the supplier has to take it back, or you can take it to your local authority," a spokeswoman said.

She cautioned that this advice arose from a casual discussion within the EPA following the query from The Irish Times, and more considered guidelines would be produced if a request were made by the Department of the Environment.

However, she said the bulbs were classed as hazardous waste and the EPA would like to see information in relation to their safe disposal published on packaging. She said the possible effects on human health of a smashed bulb were "not of too much concern" because the levels of mercury were low; however, the bulbs should be kept out of landfills because they represented an environmental hazard.

A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said it would be considering asking the EPA to formulate guidelines on CFL disposal before the ban comes into force.