Where Can I Recycle Mercury Light Bulbs

If you still don t have a convenient way to recycle light bulbs where you live there s yet another way but.

Where can i recycle mercury light bulbs. Your area may prohibit disposal and or require recycling. This amount of mercury is harmless in the bulb but if the bulb is broken it can leak out and potentially pollute ground water. California maine massachusetts minnesota new hampshire vermont and washington. Actually several states now require by law that businesses recycle their cfls including.

In order to prevent the light bulbs from breaking and releasing mercury into the environment during transit you should carefully place each one in its own bag. Mercury light bulbs fluorescent and high intensity discharge bulbs are energy efficient inexpensive and used in a variety of residential commercial and industrial situations including schools. Recycling cfls and other fluorescent bulbs allows reuse of the glass metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled.

Recycle fluorescent lights cfls and hids at no charge throughout washington state. The idea is to keep each light bulb in a separate bag which will contain any glass or mercury that may be released in case of breakage. Learn more about cfls and mercury. Before you remove a burnt out tube it is wise to turn off the electricity at the circuit for that part of.

For more details on recycling fluorescent light bulbs see this article on 1800recycling. Other materials in the bulbs get reused. Like cfl bulbs fluorescent bulbs contain mercury so you should recycle them carefully. According to a november 2004 report by the association of lighting and mercury recyclers an estimated 70 8 percent of the mercury containing lamps used by business and 98 percent of the.

Unlike cfl bulbs led bulbs don t contain mercury so recycling them is easier and safer. Metals such as mercury and lead in light bulbs are valuable and can be recovered for reuse. Social distancing is strongly encouraged as is staying home. Try using resealable plastic bags for this.

Many recycling locations have temporarily closed and we expect more to follow. Given the current situation we encourage you to reserve your recycling for when the covid 19 pandemic has passed. High quality led light bulbs have an average life expectancy of 50 000 hours while the life expectancy of an incandescent bulb is only about 1 200 hours and compact florescent cfl bulbs last for about 8 000 hours. Searchable recycling center databases are great ways to find chain retailers that provide light bulb recycling bins especially for cfls.