Lighting recycling
How to Recycle 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.
RecyclableUsually no consumer payout; material recovery is for the recyclerUpdated Jul 2026
Quick answer
LED bulbs contain no mercury. Home Depot's disposal guide says they can go in household trash. Recycling is still better when a store or e-waste site takes them, because the heat sink and circuit board hold recoverable metal.
- Recyclable
- Yes
- Typical value
- Usually no consumer payout; material recovery is for the recycler
- Donate / take-back
- Available
How to Prepare
- 1Let the bulb cool, then unscrew it
- 2Keep the glass envelope intact if you are taking it to a recycler