To recycle compact fluorescent light bulbs at Home Depot:
- Locate the Call2Recycle light bulb recycling bin at the entrance of any Home Depot store
- Place your bulbs in the plastic bags provided and drop them in the bin
- There is no charge for recycling
Full Answer
How to dispose of fluorescent light tubes?
We recommend calling these stores before stopping by, to make sure the programs are active. You may also want to check with your local sanitation department, recycling center, or your municipality’s website, as many towns and cities have specific safe disposal events for LEDs.
How to dispose of old fluorescent light bulbs?
These tips are as follows:
- Have all personnel leave the room
- Open a window or otherwise air the room out for 10 to 15 minutes
- Shut off your HVAC system, if applicable
- Scoop up all shards of glass, powder, and metal filaments using a stiff piece of cardboard
- Vacuum up any remaining dust or powder
Where can I dispose of CFL light bulbs?
- Waste Collection Services – Earth911.com has a list of waste collection services. ...
- Waste Recycling Centers – Some recycling centers will accept the bulbs and Earth911.com is a good resource to find these centers, too. ...
- Local Retailers – Some local retailers and national stores offer a bulb recycling service. ...
How do I dispose of LED light bulbs?
- Restrict your pet or children from walking over or near the area.
- Put on a pair of protective gloves and a mask.
- Sweep using a disposable material; if you use a broom, throw it away too.
- Use a stiff paper to pick up the broken pieces.
- Put them in a sealable waste bag.
- Use the sticky side of duct tape to pick up the tiny pieces.
Does Lowes or Home Depot recycle fluorescent tubes?
Lowes accepts compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) for recycling in 1,700 US stores. Their permanent recycling centers offer a free, convenient and easy way for customers to recycle rechargeable batteries, cell phones, CFLs and plastic shopping bags.
Where can I dispose of fluorescent bulbs near me?
Take lamps and tubes to a household hazardous waste collection center or event. ... See the Web site of your local governmental household hazardous waste agency for the latest information in your area.
Does Lowes accept CFL bulbs for recycling?
Keep in mind Lowe's stores offer a recycling center (usually near the entrance) that accepts plastic bags, CFL bulbs, rechargeable batteries, and cellphones. Lowe's also accepts plastic planter pots and cases in the garden center for recycling.
Where can I dispose of LED bulbs near me?
Where to Recycle LED Light Bulbs. Big-box stores like Lowes, Home Depot, and IKEA may offer in-store recycling bins where you can drop off your old LED light bulbs. Contact your local store for details. Many municipal safety departments offer both LED and CFL recycling on specific days or at set locations.
Can I throw away my LED lights?
LEDs do not contain hazardous chemicals, so it is safe to throw them away in the trash can. However, some of the components in LED bulbs may be recyclable. So, it's a good idea to contact your recycling company to see if they will accept your LEDs.
How do you dispose of LED bulbs?
Most LEDs do not contain harmful substances like CFLs, so they can be disposed of like regular incandescent bulbs. Before you toss your used LEDs, make sure they are safe to throw away with your household rubbish – or better yet, recycle your used LEDs.
Does Menards recycle fluorescent tubes?
Both Menard's Stores and The Home Depot stores will now accept CFL's for recycling from consumers.
Does Home Depot or Lowes recycle light bulbs?
Recycling Compact Fluorescent Bulbs at The Home Depot To recycle CFLs at The Home Depot: Locate the recycling bin at the entrance of any Home Depot. Place your bulbs in the plastic bags provided and drop them in the bin. There is no charge for recycling.
Does Lowes still recycle light bulbs?
What Can Customers Recycle at Most Lowe's Stores? Customers can recycle several things at Lowe's stores, including CFLs, rechargeable batteries, cellphones, and plastic shopping bags.
What is a compact fluorescent light bulb?
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) rely on gas reactions inside their tubes to produce light. The folded tube of a CFL light bulb contains argon and mercury vapor; in addition, the inside of the tube is coated with a fluorescent paint. The internal ballast system sends a current through the tube to excite the gases.
What do you do with unused light bulbs?
Incandescent bulbs and lamps can be tossed into the trash. If a bulb is broken, wrap it first in paper or plastic before placing it in your trash bin.
What is the best way to dispose of an electric bulb?
Answer. Standard light bulbs should be disposed of in normal household waste. ... Compact fluorescent lamps are energy saving light bulbs and do not belong in the rubbish bin. ... Halogen Light bulbs should be disposed of in normal household waste.
How do I dispose of fluorescent tubes in PA?
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) – These curly tube bulbs are accepted at drop boxes inside Ikea stores for free recycling or can be dropped off at any HHW event. Light-Emitting Diode Bulbs (LEDs)- These light bulbs contain a small amount of heavy metal and can be dropped off at any HHW event.
Can you throw clothes in the garbage?
1. Don't throw unwanted clothes in the bin. First things first, if you have to get rid of your clothes, don't throw them in the bin. Discarded clothes sit in landfill, can take years to biodegrade and then contribute to toxic air pollution[1].
Do LED bulbs contain mercury?
LEDs use significantly less energy than even CFLs, and do not contain mercury.
Can light bulbs be recycled?
You can recycle them, but don't put them in with your curbside or drop-off recycling. You'll need to find a special waste collection event in your area or take them to a local retailer. Many DIY and hardware stores offer CFL recycling. If you break a CFL, you shouldn't recycle it.
How do I dispose of fluorescent tubes in Arizona?
How to Recycle Fluorescent Tubes in ArizonaCall the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at 602-771-2300, or toll free at 800-234-5677.Inquire about city and state programs for recycling fluorescent tubes in Arizona. ... Wrap the fluorescent tube in a blanket or towel to protect the tube during transport.
How do I dispose of fluorescent tubes in Colorado?
Denver residents can dispose of their CFLs and fluorescent tubes with their free Household Hazardous Waste collection.
How do you dispose of fluorescent tubes in Fairfax County?
CFLs should be brought to the Household Hazardous Waste section of the I-66 Transfer Station or the I- 95 Landfill, where the mercury will be removed and the remaining lamp components will be recycled. Be sure to transport CFLs carefully so they do not break in transit.
How do I dispose of fluorescent tubes in NJ?
DisposalUnbroken compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can be taken to any Lowes or Home Depot Store (PDF) (just bulbs, no tubes or other style fluorescent lights).The Burlington County Hazardous Waste Facility will take compact bulbs, tubes, and other style fluorescent lights. This is free of charge for County residents.
Why do fluorescent bulbs break?from epa.gov
Recycling prevents the release of mercury into the environment. CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs often break when thrown into a dumpster, trash can or compactor, or when they end up in a landfill or incinerator. Learn more about CFLs and mercury. Other materials in the bulbs get reused.
How to find drop off locations?from earth911.com
To find a drop-off location near you, enter your ZIP code in the search tool on RecycleABulb.com. You can also check Earth911 Recycling Search for nearby locations and mail-in programs.
What are the Most Common Types of Household Light Bulbs?from upgradedhome.com
There are 5 types of light bulbs that are used in homes – fluorescent, LED, incandescent, CFL, and Halogen bulbs. We will also discuss the recycling and disposal requirements for each type of bulb.
What is CFL recycling?from earth911.com
CFL Recycling Process. CFLs are shipped to a bulb recycler that uses special machines to extract the mercury and break down the aluminum fixtures and glass casing. Mercury can be reused in new bulbs or products like thermostats. Aluminum is recycled as scrap metal, and the glass is downcycled into materials like concrete or ceramic tile.
How to keep mercury from leaking?from earth911.com
Put the CFL in a plastic zipper bag to prevent any mercury from leaking if it breaks during transportation. Don’t pack multiple CFLs in the same bag, as this will increase the chance of them breaking. You can take your CFLs to an antifreeze, batteries, oil, paint (ABOP) facility, or a household hazardous waste event.
How long do LEDs last?from earth911.com
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs, the bulbs commonly used in electronics now available in light bulb form) last about three times as long as CFLs and use two-thirds of the energy. They also don’t contain mercury, can be used on dimmer switches and power up instantly.
How often do you have to collect hazardous waste?from epa.gov
provide services that are usually free, though some may charge a small fee. sometimes collect household hazardous wastes only once or twice a year, so residents will have to hold on to their light bulbs until the collection takes place. Other collection agencies provide collection services throughout the year.
What is the Easiest Way to Dispose of CFL Bulbs?
The easiest option is to take your old bulbs to your local home center or hardware store when buying new ones. Stores such as The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Batteries Plus, IKEA and independent hardware chains, will do the recycling for you.
How to get rid of broken light bulb?
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. Wipe down the area with a wet paper towel or old towel that can also be sealed up. Take the broken bulb remnants to your recycler, if possible.
Why Do CFL Bulbs Need Special Disposal?
CFL bulbs contain about 5 milligrams of mercury, which can be toxic to the environment.
How Else Can I Recycle CFLs?
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 CFLs or anything else you need to recycle.
What if a CFL Bulb Breaks?
Because a broken CFL bulb can expose a person to mercury vapor, take quick precautions if this happens at home. The EPA recommends these steps:
How to clean a broken CFL bulb?
Because a broken CFL bulb can expose a person to mercury vapor, take quick precautions if this happens at home. The EPA recommends these steps: 1 Turn off any fans or heating and cooling systems so fumes are contained. 2 Open a window and let the room ventilate for 10 minutes. 3 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. 4 Wipe down the area with a wet paper towel or old towel that can also be sealed up. Take the broken bulb remnants to your recycler, if possible.
What are some hazardous materials that can be collected in a county?
Many counties also have household hazardous waste sites for collecting bulbs and other potentially toxic materials, such as solvents and unused paint.
What are the Most Common Types of Household Light Bulbs?
There are 5 types of light bulbs that are used in homes – fluorescent, LED, incandescent, CFL, and Halogen bulbs. We will also discuss the recycling and disposal requirements for each type of bulb.
Does Home Depot Recycle Light Bulbs?
Home Depot does recycle some types of light bulbs. Others need to be taken to a local recycling center.
Conclusion
Instead of tossing out your old light bulbs, recycle them. Home Depot runs an excellent light bulb recycling program, as do other retailers. You can also work with your local recycling center to keep those bulbs out of the landfills.
How do fluorescent lights work?
According to Hunker, fluorescent light bulbs work similarly to incandescent bulbs in that they both use electricity to heat up an element inside a glass container full of inert gas. The result in both cases is light, though fluorescent bulbs last much longer and burn much brighter than incandescent ones.
What is the element in fluorescent bulbs?
The element inside of fluorescent bulbs contains small amounts of liquid mercury, a very useful though highly toxic metal that reacts with the inert argon gas inside of the bulb to create light. This mercury is what causes the fluorescent bulb's added brilliance and it’s also what makes them so controversial in terms of disposal.
Can you recycle fluorescent bulbs at Home Depot?
Home Depot’s website explains that customers can bring their old fluorescent bulbs to the store for free recycling, though it might be a good idea to call and ask if your local store has any restrictions first. If you’re still not sure where to bring your old bulbs, a great online resource is Earth911 's search tool.
Can fluorescent bulbs be recycled?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that consumers looking to dispose of fluorescent bulbs avail themselves of the recycling programs in their local area. Because of the mercury, the EPA considers fluorescent bulbs to be hazardous waste, which cannot be disposed of through normal means.
Does hardware store accept fluorescent bulbs?
Many hardware stores and nationwide hardware retailers also offer in-store recycling of hazardous materials, though not every one of these accepts fluorescent bulbs.
Can glass be recycled?
If handled properly, the glass, metals, and other material components can all be recycled into other products. Of course, you’ll have to find out if there are any recycling or disposal sites in your area first. You can’t just put them out with the cans and bottles.
Can I throw out my fluorescent bulbs?
You certainly can, but you absolutely should not, for several reasons. First, most sanitation departments are strictly forbidden from taking fluorescent lightbulbs. Putting them out to the curb with the rest of your garbage could spell trouble for you and your sanitation workers. Fluorescent bulbs are very breakable and can shatter into a million pieces if they are not handled correctly. This would not be so bad, if not for the individual components within the bulbs themselves — namely, the mercury.
What Kind Of Bulbs Does Home Depot Recycle?
All Home Depot locations accept CFL light bulbs for recycling through the Call2Recyle program.
How Does Home Depot Light Bulb Recycling Work?
Locate the Call2Recycle light bulb recycling bin at the entrance of any Home Depot store
Where Else Can You Recycle Light Bulbs?
No matter where you live, there’s a good chance that your state or county government probably offers a light bulb recycling program at no charge to residents, so that’s the first place to look.
How To Properly Dispose Of Light Bulbs For Recycling?
Some light bulb varieties are much easier to dispose of than others. Incandescent bulbs, for example, can be disposed of in any household trash can by simply wrapping the bulb in a thick paper bag to prevent injury from broken glass.
Final Thoughts
Disposing of light bulbs at Home Depot is super safe and easy. However, this service is generally only provided to people recycling CFL bulbs. If your bulb is not a CFL, then you will need to look elsewhere for recycling or disposal options. When you recycle light bulbs at Home Depot, you will never be charged a fee.
How do fluorescent bulbs produce light?
Fluorescent light bulbs produce light when an electric current passes between two electrodes in a tube filled with mercury vapor and inert gasses such as krypton and argon. The mercury vapors in an excited state generate ultraviolet light on a fluorescent coating inside the tube.
Where to place CFL waste?
Place all the collected materials you used to clean the CFL waste and place them outdoors in a secure container.
Can You Recycle Light Bulbs at Home Depot or Lowes?
You can recycle your CFL bulbs at Home Depot and Lowes, which offer recycling centers to safely and efficiently dispose of this harmful waste. Visit your nearest allocated recycling point and take your CFL waste to the designated in-store collection bin.
How do LED bulbs work?
Light-emitting diodes or LED bulbs produce light by passing an electric current through a semiconductor called a diode. The diode emits light in the form of photons released by electroluminescence. The LED is highly durable and long-lasting, with a lifespan between 35,000 and 50,000 hours, approximately 50 times longer than the average incandescent bulb.
Can you dispose of incandescent bulbs?
You can dispose of incandescent and halogen light bulbs in regular trash cans as long as they’re covered to prevent injury to waste services personnel. CFLs and LEDs must be disposed of more carefully as they contain mercury, lead, and arsenic which are bad for the environment.
Is phasing out light bulbs bad for the environment?
As innocent as these lightbulbs appear, they have a deadly cost to our energy-depleted environment. Phasing out the old school incandescent bulb for its CFL and LED counterparts has a considerable effect on our planet.
Can you throw away CFLs?
Although it’s only illegal to throw away CFLs in regular trash in seven states, other states are sure to follow. CFLs and LEDs should be responsibly recycled to protect ourselves and the environment. This article will cover some ways you may safely dispose of your used or broken light bulbs.
Why should fluorescent bulbs be disposed of?
The reason is because of the mercury contained in each fluorescent bulb that has the potential to be very hazardous if not disposed of the right way.
How long do fluorescent lights last?
Fluorescent lamps are commonly used among businesses and homes because the lamps utilize fluorescent tubes that can last upwards of 15,000 hours. That is the good news. The bad news is fluorescent tubes are classified as hazardous waste, as the electrical product contains mercury.
What type of lighting is used for fluorescent tubes?
This makes fluorescent tubes disposal important when it comes to electronic recycling safe practices. Flood lights, security lights, and street lamps are just a few of the types of lightning that use fluorescent lamps and tubes.
Can you recycle fluorescent tubes at Lowes?
Those looking to recycle fluor escent tubes at Lowes should contact the store near them directly as each location has a different policy when it comes to electronic recycling of bulbs and other e-waste.
Is mercury in light bulbs?
Although light bulbs are not classified as electronic waste, fluorescent bulbs, CFLs and other high-intensity bulbs are known to contain the toxic chemical mercury. Therefore, responsible disposal of these types of bulbs is important when it comes to safe environmental friendly electronic recycling practices. So where can I recycle light bulbs?
Can fluorescent tubes be recycled?
When packaging fluorescent tubes and lamps for electronic recycling it is important to not break them. Avoid taping the fluorescent tubes together, and try and place the lighting equipment in a box of some sort. However, if an accident happens and fluorescent tubes are broken then please use the following steps to properly dispose of broken fluorescent tubes:
Does Home Depot recycle light bulbs?
One business that is currently offering free light bulb recycling is Home Depot. Unfortunately, they do not accept fluorescent tubes, but at all of its store locations, Home Depot will accept compact fluorescent lights (CFL) for proper electronic recycling. What’s even better is people can also pick up some more energy-efficient light bulbs while at the store!
How to dispose of broken light bulb?
Take all the trash to a hazardous waste collection facility. Contact the facility ahead of time to make sure you’re cleared to bring the hazardous material to the site. If you’re not able to dispose of it immediately, ask someone at the facility how you should store the broken bulb until you’re able to bring it to the waste center. [9]
How to dispose of fluorescent tubes?
These include recycling them, taking them to a hazardous waste collection center, or even mailing them back to your lamp supplier.
How to clean a broken tube?
Clean up the large pieces of broken tube with a stiff piece of cardboard. This will allow you to contain the mercury contamination to this piece of cardboard, which you can throw away at the end of this whole process. For maximum safety, wear a breathing mask and gloves as you’re cleaning the broken pieces.
How much does it cost to ship a lamp?
The cost of shipping will vary based on your area and vendor, but it will probably be about $1 per lamp.
How to store a light bulb?
Store the tube in a protective container or box until you can recycle it. If you purchased the light yourself, simply place the tube back in the box it originally came in. If you don’t have this box, wrap the tube in bubble wrap or newspaper and gently place it in a sturdy box.
How to remove a light bulb from a light fixture?
1. Turn off power to the light fixture and remove the tube. Rotate the bulb clockwise to loosen it, then pull 1 end away from the fixture to pop it out. Pull the other end out of the fixture as well to finish removing the tube. Use a ladder when removing the bulb to minimize the chance of you dropping it.
Where to store a tube?
You may not be able to dispose of the tube right away, so store it in a dry, secure place where it won’t be jostled or moved around a lot ( such as a rarely used storage closet).