How to dispose of light bulbs — LED, CFL and fluorescent tubes
It depends on the bulb, and on where you live. LED and incandescent bulbs usually go in the trash — New York City, for one, allows it. Fluorescent tubes and CFLs contain mercury, so EPA encourages recycling them — and some states require it.
Short answer
- LED and incandescent: usually household trash. Wrap or double-bag them so they don't cut anyone.
- CFLs and fluorescent tubes: recycle them where you can. Some states require it.
- Where: household hazardous waste drop-offs, many transfer stations, and some retailers.
- Broken CFL? If your area allows it in the trash, seal it in a plastic bag first.
Why fluorescent bulbs are different
EPA encourages people to use local options for recycling CFLs, fluorescent bulbs and other mercury-containing bulbs, and notes that some states and local governments have stricter rules and may require recycling them. Where your state or local agency does permit used or broken CFLs in household trash, EPA says to seal the bulb in a plastic bag and put it in the outside trash for the next collection.
Local rules really do differ. New York City, for example, lets residents put incandescent, LED and CFL bulbs in the trash, double-bagged, while offering drop-off sites for CFLs and noting that many large hardware chains take CFLs back.
Where to take fluorescent bulbs
- Free at the drop-off in Norwich, Connecticut, along with batteries and electronics.
- Cary, North Carolina, Chicago and Burlington, Vermont take fluorescent bulbs with other household hazardous items.
- Manassas, Virginia residents drop them off free at the city's hazardous waste days.
- Allen County, Indiana's weekly drop-off limits light bulbs to 50 a visit.
- Not everywhere: Los Lunas, New Mexico won't take fluorescent tubes, Norman, Oklahoma won't take fluorescent bulbs, and Richland, Washington won't take high-intensity bulbs.
Find a drop-off near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest sites, then check each site's page for light bulbs.