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How to Safely Dispose of Fluorescent Bulbs
Fluorescent lights save energy and money, and protect the environment. Using them reduces the amount of energy that needs to be produced by power plants. Fluorescent lights also contain small amounts of mercury, so they need to be managed properly. There are several options for recycling fluorescent lights here in Thurston County.
How to prepare lamps for recycling
Used lamps are fragile and should be handled carefully to avoid breakage. The best way to transport fluorescent tubes is in their original box. If this is not possible, you can wrap them in newspaper or plastic to keep them from breaking. Please do not tape tubes together, as they will need to be loose to be recycled. Burnt out bulbs may also be placed in a 6-pack container, packed with newspapers. For directions, click here.
How
to prepare lamps for recycling
Because fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, broken bulbs need to be cleaned up with care. Click here to see what to do if a bulb breaks.
Where to recycle fluorescent bulbs
Recycle your fluorescent bulbs at the following locations during regular business hours. If you have an unusual type of tube or bulb (for example, 8 foot straight tubes or circular fluorescent bulbs), call first to make sure the store will accept them.
For information on recycling fluorescent bulbs for businesses, call the Thurston County Business Pollution Program at 360-867-2664.
HazoHouse and the WasteMobile
All types of mercury-containing lamps can be recycled at HazoHouse and the WasteMobile, including straight fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), high-intensity discharge lamps, neon lamps, and mercury vapor lamps. Please bring no more than 30 tubes or bulbs per day per customer, and no more than 15 ballasts per day per customer.
For more information on household products containing mercury, click here.
Contact Us
Call Thurston County Public Works at (360) 867-2491 or email ThurstonSolidWaste@co.thurston.wa.us.
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