How to Dispose of CFL Bulbs Responsibly

Why Is It Important to Properly Dispose of CFL Bulbs? 

CFLs and fluorescent bulbs contain trace amounts of mercury. While one bulb may not cause major contamination, a large collection of them inside a city dump can release enough mercury into the environment to become an issue. By recycling your CFL bulbs properly, you can avoid contributing to environmental problems, and ensure that other materials inside the bulb such as metal and glass can be used again in other products. It is also important to note that some states and cities may have legal regulations about proper CFL disposal, which means that recycling is a requirement. 

Retail Stores 

Several popular retail stores have made it fast and easy to dispose of your CFL bulbs. Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ikea, TrueValue and other large companies allow customers to bring them their CFL bulbs for proper disposal, at no charge. Check with hardware stores in your area to see which programs are available. 

Garbage Pickup and Recycling Services 

Some local garbage pickup and recycling providers will collect CFL or mercury pickup. Call your local company or city department and ask about their policies. While some will not allow curbside pickup, many will provide a way for local residents and businesses to drop off hazardous materials at their local facility. Always call ahead to be sure, so you do not waste your time and gas money.

Mail-In Programs 

There are some bulb manufacturers and environmental organizations that offer mail-in recycling programs. In some cases, the shipping charges are taken care of by the company or institution, so you can send them off for free. Contact the company that made your current lightbulb and see if they have a recycling program in place. 

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