All materials
How to Recycle Lighting
Bulbs, tubes, string lights, and exit fixtures. Mercury lamps need recycling drop-off; plain glass bulbs usually go in the trash; LEDs can be trashed or recycled as e-waste.
10 materials covered8 recyclable
LED Bulbs
Light-emitting diode screw-in and specialty bulbs with a heat sink and driver board. Not mercury universal waste; optional e-waste recycling.
Learn how to recycle LED Bulbs
CFL Bulbs
Compact fluorescent lamps. Federal universal waste lamps when hazardous (40 CFR 273). Average mercury content about 4 mg (EPA).
Learn how to recycle CFL Bulbs
Fluorescent Tubes
Linear, U-bent, and circular fluorescent lamps. Universal waste lamps under 40 CFR 273 when hazardous. Typical 4-ft tubes average about 13 mg mercury (IMERC), with wide range by age and output.
Learn how to recycle Fluorescent Tubes
Halogen Bulbs
Tungsten-halogen bulbs in quartz envelopes. Not universal waste. Trash is the normal household path.
Learn how to recycle Halogen Bulbs
Incandescent Bulbs
Traditional tungsten-filament bulbs. Trash-OK for burnouts. Not universal waste.
Learn how to recycle Incandescent Bulbs
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps
High-intensity discharge lamps named in 40 CFR 273.9: metal halide, mercury vapor, high-pressure sodium, and related types.
Learn how to recycle High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps
Neon and Argon Lights
Cold-cathode glass tubes for signs and art. Neon is a federal universal waste lamp example when the spent lamp is hazardous waste. Mercury load depends on color/fill.
Learn how to recycle Neon and Argon Lights
Holiday and String Lights
Incandescent and LED decorative light strings. Not curbside recyclable. E-waste or scrap-wire channels.
Learn how to recycle Holiday and String Lights
LED Strip Lights
Flexible LED tape with adhesive backing, controllers, and low-voltage power supplies.
Learn how to recycle LED Strip Lights
Emergency and Exit Lighting
Hardwired or plug-in emergency lights and exit signs. Two families: battery-backup electric units, and tritium (self-luminous) signs that need radioactive-materials disposal.
Learn how to recycle Emergency and Exit Lighting
Find Lighting Recycling Centers Near You
Ready to recycle your lighting materials? Use our search tool to find nearby recycling centers that accept these items.