How to Properly Dispose of Light Bulbs

With spring-cleaning right around the corner it’s critical to stress the importance of recycling and disposing household objects in the correct manner. Compact fluorescent lamp and other light bulbs may contain harmful and hazardous waste that requires proper removal. Learn how and why it’s important to properly dispose of light bulbs to avoid harm to you and the environment.

Recycling your Light Bulbs

Recycling your light bulbs can prevent the possible release of Mercury, a dangerous chemical found in most light bulbs, into the environment. When you throw light bulbs in the regular trash they have a tendency to get broken throughout their removal process, which causes these chemicals to leak once they are in a landfill.
When you choose to recycle used light bulbs, certain materials can then be reused to create a new fluorescent bulb. Lastly, your area may prohibit the improper disposal of light bulbs in regular trash and may require you to only recycle. It’s important to know whether your state or local area has restrictions on the recycling of florescent light bulbs.

How and Where to Recycle Light Bulbs

You can recycle your light bulbs at a local waste collection agency near your home. They often collect hazardous waste products once or twice a year so it’s important to hold onto old light bulbs and drop them off during the specific time frame. They also collect other harmful materials such as paints, pesticides, cleaning supplies or batteries.
Check your local area to find retailers who offer in-store recycling. Many hardware or supply stores are the most common sources for recycling, but be sure to call ahead to ensure they are equipped to recycle any certain type of light bulbs.
Lastly, some light bulb manufacturers or other organizations offer a pre-labeled recycling kit that allows you to mail your used bulbs to major recycling centers. For more information on any of the following disposal methods please visit https://search.earth911.com/.

Sources

Epa.gov/recycling-and-disposal-cfls

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