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.

Home Depot
Accepts bulbs only (no tubes)
1101 Kingswood Dr SW, Tumwater (786-9890)
1325 Fones Rd SE, Olympia (412-1900)
1450 Marvin Rd NE, Lacey (459-4256)
No charge

Puget Sound Energy (for customers only)
Accepts bulbs only (no tubes)
42711 Pacific Avenue S.E., Olympia
888-225-5773
No charge
Click here for photos of bulbs accepted by PSE

For information on recycling fluorescent bulbs for businesses, call the Thurston County Business Pollution Program at 360-786-5457.

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.

Questions:  Call 867-2491 or e-mail wwm-webmaster@co.thurston.wa.us. 
Last updated: 12/21/2009