According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CFLs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing, so when a CFL breaks, some of the mercury can be released as vapor. The EPA has updated its recommendation on how to properly clean up a broken CFL.
First, have people and pets leave the room, and open a window or door. If any central heating or air conditioning is running, shut it off. Gather materials to clean the broken bulb, like a sealable plastic bag, broom, wet paper towels, stiff cardboard and tape. Do not use a vacuum cleaner.
Collect the pieces of broken glass and place them in the plastic bag. Wipe the floor with a wet paper towel, or use sticky tape to easily get glass out of carpet. Put all the materials used for cleanup in the plastic bag and place it in a trash container outdoors.
After cleanup, continue to air out the room for several hours, and leave the central air conditioning or heat system turned off.