How To Safely Get Rid of Lightbulbs

With the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act in 2007, the US began phasing out traditional incandescent light bulbs. As the usage of incandescents dimmed, two new types of bulbs rose in popularity: LED (light—emitting diode) and CFL (compact fluorescent lamp).

Both LEDs and CFLs are longer-lasting and use far less energy than incandescent lights, making them a net positive. But the new bulbs do have a drawback. They use more complex technology to light up the night. And that complex technology — whether it’s hazardous elements or recyclable circuitry — raises questions about how to dispose of them when they burn out.

We’ll look at the most common types of light bulbs found in American homes, and look at options for both throwing them away and recycling. Of course, some municipalities have specific regulations about how light bulbs should be handled.

Waste management pro Adam Atkins, director of Cheapa Waste Skips, explained that the regulations that really matter are on a local level. “Check with your local city or town council about their recycling programs,” says Atkins. “In my area, LED bulbs can be dropped off during e-waste collection events.”

He cautions that if the bulbs are broken, there might be different rules concerning their collection or disposal. “So be sure to confirm whether they can still be accepted for recycling.”

Incandescent Bulbs

Let’s be clear: if you have incandescent bulbs, you can continue to toss them in the trash when they burn out. Incandescents are simply glass bulbs surrounding a filament—a thin piece of wire that shines brightly when heated by an electrical current. They pose no particular risk to the environment when dropped in standard waste.

While the glass and metal components could theoretically be recycled, the difficulty of separating them means that they are typically not accepted at recycling centers.

LED Bulbs

For most homeowners, LED bulbs have become the de facto replacement for incandescent lights. They last much longer, are less expensive to operate, and are extremely affordable.

In most areas of the country, you can simply dispose of an LED bulb in your trash. However, some areas require that you recycle them. And frankly, even if it’s not required, it’s still a good idea to recycle your LED lights.

Remember that LEDs are not a simple, bright-burning bit of wire like an incandescent bulb. They have circuit boards and chips, all of which can and should be recycled. Most curbside recycling programs aren’t equipped to recycle LED bulbs, so the easiest option is to stop by stores such as The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Batteries Plus, or independent hardware stores and let them recycle for you.

CFL Light Bulbs

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are the squiggly light bulbs that were very popular about a decade ago. While they’ve lost market share to LEDs, they are still available in stores, and there are many homes using them today.

CFLs are long-lasting, but they do contain small amounts of mercury, making them toxic to the environment. They should never be tossed in your household trash, and if broken, the debris should be collected with care.

Once again, the easiest way for DIYers to dispose of CFLs is at big box stores like Lowes or Home Depot. These stores usually have recycle bins for bulbs near their entrance or the returns desk. This free service is hassle-free, and let’s face it—you’ll probably be stopping by to pick up project materials at some point anyway.

Fluorescent Tubes

Fluorescent tube lights are very similar to CFLs. (Remember that the F in CFL stands for fluorescent!) They also use trace amounts of mercury and need to be disposed of with care. Many big box stores accept fluorescent tubes for recycling, but not all of them do. Check with the store before you bring in a load of tubes, or refer to a recycling resource like Earth911.com to find a recycling center near you.

Also, note that not all tube lights are fluorescent! Fluorescent tubes are largely being replaced by LED strip lights encased in a glass tube. Just like CFL vs. LEDs, these LED tubes are easier to dispose of and can be placed in household trash or taken to a recycling center that accepts LEDs.

Broken Bulbs

If an LED bulb breaks, you can simply clean it up and throw it away in your household trash. But a broken CFL bulb or fluorescent tube can expose you to mercury vapor!

The EPA recommends taking these steps if a bulb is broken in your home.

1. Turn off any fans or central air so fumes are contained.
2. Open a window and let the room ventilate for 10 minutes.
3. Don’t vacuum the pieces yet!
4. Use cardboard to scoop and lift up the large pieces. Use gloves and sticky tape to pick up smaller pieces and shards that are kept contained in a sealed plastic bag.
5. Wipe down the area with a wet paper towel or old towel that can also be sealed up. (At this point, if any stubborn glass pieces remain, you can use a vacuum to collect them.)
6. If your city or state requires fluorescent bulbs to be taken to a local recycling center. If there is no such requirement in your area, you can dispose of the materials with your household trash.

For details and an expanded list of safe and local disposal options, go to Earth911.com. This database of 100,000 recycling and hazardous waste sites provides details for proper disposal of LEDs, CFLs, or anything else you need to recycle.

About the Expert

Adam Atkins is Director and Co-Owner of Cheapa Waste Skips, a waste management business providing fast, reliable, and affordable skip bin hire for homeowners and garbage collection services for businesses.

Sources Used

• Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, section 273.4 Applicability—Mercury-containing equipment, National Archives and Records Administration
• Recycle Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs), EnergyStar.gov