If you have central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, shut it off.
Air out the room for five to 10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoors.
Collect materials needed to clean up the broken bulb:
–Stiff paper or cardboard
–Sticky tape
–Damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces)
–A glass jar with a metal lid or a sealable plastic bag
During Cleanup
Use disposable gloves.
Do not vacuum, which could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor. Vacuuming is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken.
Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.
After Cleanup
Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, in an outdoor trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
Next, check with your local government about disposal requirements in your area. Some localities require fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) to be taken to a local recycling center. If there is no such requirement in your area, dispose of the materials with your household trash.
If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system off for several hours.
