Where to Recycle CFLs
- Contact your local waste collection agency. Visit search.Earth911.com to find collection schedules in your area or drop-off locations if curbside collections are not available.
- Visit your local retailers. Many hardware supply stores and other retailers offer in-store recycling. ...
- Find out about mail-back services. ...
Where can I dispose of CFL light bulbs?
RECYCLING LIGHT BULBS
- Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) Compact fluorescent lamps are used extensively in homes and businesses, and, besides being recyclable, have many environmental benefits.
- Environmental impacts. ...
- Too valuable to waste. ...
- Legal requirements. ...
- Preferred handling option: recycle! ...
- Safe handling. ...
How and where to recycle CFL light bulbs?
Recycle Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for CFLs. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.earth911.org. or epa.gov/bulbrecycling to identify local recycling options.
How do you dispose of CFL light bulbs?
The EPA recommends these steps:
- Turn off any fans or heating and cooling systems so fumes are contained.
- Open a window and let the room ventilate for 10 minutes.
- Use cardboard to scoop and lift up the large pieces. ...
- Wipe down the area with a wet paper towel or old towel that can also be sealed up. ...
Where can I recycle old light bulbs?
- Snow globes
- Flower vases
- Oil lamps
- Hanging wall decorations
- Spiders or glass animal figurines
Does Lowe's or Home Depot recycle fluorescent tubes?
The biggest market for CFL recycling is retailers (like Home Depot and Lowe's), which accept them for free but only from consumers. CFLs are more widely purchased by consumers in these retail stores, whereas fluorescent tubes are more often used in offices.
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.
How do 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.
Where can I use compact fluorescent bulbs?
CFLs are highly versatile and can be used in any setting where you would normally use incandescent bulbs. They come in enough shapes and sizes that you can use them for recessed fixtures, table lamps, track lighting or ceiling lighting. Three-way CFLs and CFLs that work with dimmers are also available.
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.
How do you dispose of fluorescent lights at Lowes?
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.
How do I dispose of fluorescent tubes?
Fluorescent tube bulbs can generally be recycled at the same sites that take used CFL bulbs, but some retailers may not accept larger ones. Check Earth911 for your area and call ahead to be sure, or take your used fluorescent tube bulbs to your nearest household hazardous waste site.
Can I put light bulbs in recycling bin?
How to recycle light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs can be recycled at most larger Recycling Centres and some stores - find your nearest below. Older style 'incandescent' bulbs aren't recyclable and should be put in the waste bin.
Are LED light bulbs recyclable?
LED light bulbs can be recycled just like other lighting waste however, these energy-efficient bulbs have to be discarded correctly to reap the benefits.
Are compact fluorescent bulbs being phased out?
There are still manufacturers producing CFLs, and there are still plenty of options for sale on our website. However, you will likely see a gradual phase out of CFL products.
Where is the mercury in CFL bulbs?
A CFL bulb is made of glass, a ceramic and metal base, a powder called phosphor, and a small amount of mercury. The mercury in the bulb is in the form of an invisible vapor or as part of the phosphor coating on the inside of the glass. CFL bulbs use less energy than a regular light bulb.
How can you tell the difference between CFL and LED?
Comparison ChartBasis for ComparisonLED BulbsCFL BulbsExpands toLight Emitting Diode bulbsCompact Fluorescent light bulbsEfficiencyHighComparatively lessSavingUp to 80% a year in energy costsUp to 75% a year in energy costsLife Span (in hours)50000 hours8000 hours9 more rows•May 4, 2021
Can you recycle CFL bulbs?
CFL bulbs did, in fact, used to be a real pain to recycle but when Home Depot started a recycling program for used, unbroken CFL bulbs back in 2008, recycling them got a whole lot easier. Just seal them up in a plastic bag and drop them off at any Home Depot location.
Does staples recycle?
Staples: Staples offers recycling programs for just about all the hard-to-recycle items they sell. Computers, printers, fax machines, ink (which you can actually get Staples rewards dollars in return for recycling), old cell phones, PDAs, rechargeable batteries.
Does Publix take old CDs?
They’ll also take old CDs, DVDs and even old cables that don’t seem to plug into anything. Publix: One of the supermarket chains that actually makes it easy and convenient for you to recycle, Publix offers recycling bins for paper and plastic bags, as well as foam egg containers at all of their locations.
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.
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:
Is it illegal to throw away fluorescent bulbs?
In some states, it is illegal to throw away fluorescent tubes since the bulbs contain mercury. The reason is that when fluorescent tubes are mixed with regular household trash they will end up at local landfills, and the mercury from those fluorescent bulbs will leak into the Earth. This is dangerous because the toxic chemical can then make its way into groundwater where it will have negative health reactions among humans. Therefore, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that consumers and businesses property dispose of e-waste at electronic recycling facilities.
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!
What is a compact fluorescent lamp?
Considered as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), compact fluorescent lamps use low-pressure Mercury-vapor bulbs or tubes that transform UV light into visible light, that we measure in lumens. Also known as high-intensity discharge, HID, or arc light, they come in a few forms: straight, circular, or U-shaped bulbs that require careful disposal.
Why do fluorescent lights go rough?
Compact fluorescent lamps are efficient, energy-saving, have a subtle and soft specter that can go rough because of natural worn-out or systematic electrical problems. Because of their vast distribution, it is important to know not only lighting mistakes in your interior, be it the most-used kitchen, or any other room, but also how to proceed with disposing of unused or broken CFLs. We hope this guide of tips was interesting, informative, and useful for any old bulb or tube used in private homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, as gifts, etc.
Is it bad to dispose of fluorescent bulbs?
Unlike recycling old bulbs of other types, the risks to your health from an individual fluorescent light bulb broken are minimal, but Mercury, lead, and other heavy metals are probably hazardous waste. If you dispose of CFLs the wrong way (burned or landfilled) toxic substances enter into the open and pose a threat to the environment.
Can you recycle bulbs?
Most components of a bulb you can recycle and there are several options, depending on the waste management plan, the type of property, and living area.
Can you throw bulbs in the recycling bin?
You can’t just throw as regular waste into a recycling bin, as bulbs are easy to shatter. When broken, they release Mercury trapped inside enters your intermediate surroundings, exposing you to the risk of Mercury poisoning.
Where to leave a sandbox?
Leave them outside the building in a protected area or in a trash bin.
Can you mail out CFLs?
Some manufacturers sell pre-labeled recycling kits that give you the opportunity to mail out your unused C FLs to local recycling sites, so there are no bulbs in the trash