How to Recycle or Safely Dispose of Fluorescent Lamps and Tubes – Households and Small Businesses with Only a Few Lamps or Tubes at Once Bring lamps and tubes to a collection facility or event for home hazardous garbage. Discover where fluorescent bulbs and tubes may be recycled or discarded by visiting Where Can I Recycle My?, or contact Earth 911 or 800 CLEAN-UP (253-2687).
Enter your zip code to locate the recycling location closest to you. Includes information on several forms of recyclable material, as well as hazardous home garbage. Consult the website of your local home hazardous waste agency for the most up-to-date information in your region. Businesses Mercury-containing bulbs and tubes are now managed as general wastes for recycling.
Recent universal waste standards abolish hazardous waste manifest requirements and allow for one year of storage. Alternatively, businesses can contact a universal waste handler (e.g., storage facility, broker) or an approved recycling plant. Contact the local DTSC office.
Where nearby can I recycle LED bulbs?
Where Can LED Light Bulbs Be Recycled –
- Large-scale retailers such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, and IKEA may provide recycling containers where you may dispose of your old LED light bulbs. Contact the shop nearest you for details.
- Many local safety departments provide LED and CFL recycling on certain days and at designated sites. Consult your city.
- Most Batteries Plus stores and certain hardware stores accept used LED bulbs for a charge. Contact the shop nearest you for details.
- If you are unable to locate a local recycling program, NLR, LampMaster, Republic Services, and Veolia provide mail-in recycling services at a cost.
- LED holiday lights may also be recycled at big-box retailers or by mailing them to HolidayLEDs, Environmental LED, or Christmas Light Source.
Photograph courtesy of NLR
The average amount of mercury in a 4-foot-long light bulb produced today is roughly 12 milligrams. Bulbs made prior to the mid-1980s had at least 40 mg. Currently, at least one company produces low-mercury light bulbs having 4 mg or fewer.
Contain all fluorescent bulbs mercury?
Fluorescent illumination, including lamps, bulbs, tubes, and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), contains mercury and cannot be disposed of in landfills. Fluorescent lighting must be discarded at designated drop-off facilities, such as municipal recycling centers, local or regional home hazardous waste collection days, and Home Depot/ Lowe’s.