Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) contain about 5 milligrams of mercury, a highly toxic naturally occurring element. For comparison, a regular non-electronic thermostat contains 4320 milligrams of mercury — more than 850 times as much.

CFLs (and thermostats) MUST be properly recycled to avoid releasing the mercury they contain. You should also be extra-careful to avoid breaking CFLs. If one does break, follow these steps to clean it up.

If mercury is so dangerous, you might wonder whether CFLs are safe to have in your home. As long as the bulbs don’t break, there is absolutely no risk. Moreover, burning coal to produce electricity releases mercury into the atmosphere. Over the course of its life a single CFL will save enough electricity to prevent almost 7 mg of mercury emissions — 37% more than the amount the CFL contains. And the mercury from recycled CFLs can be reused to make new ones.

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