Fluorescent Lightbulbs
CFL and Fluorescent Tube Recyclers
- Home Depot: This site accepts unbroken CFL bulbs only, no fluorescent tubes. 2800 Countryside Dr. Turlock, CA
- Stanislaus County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility: Services are restricted to residents of Stanislaus County 1716 Morgan Rd, Modesto, CA
- Lamptracker: (800) 664-1434 Prepaid Recycling Program for Lamps & Ballasts. One price includes everything you need, the container, shipping to the recycling center, recycling fees, and certificates of recycling.
- Pro Clean: (209) 577-4313 A local provider for prepaid Recycling Program for Lamps & Ballasts. One price includes everything you need, the container, shipping to the recycling center, recycling fees, and certificates of recycling.
- Easypak: (888) 640-6700 When you need to dispose of lamps, ballasts, batteries, and thermostats, simply order EasyPak containers. One price includes everything you need, the container, shipping to the recycling center, recycling fees, and certificates of recycling.
- BULBS.COM: (888) 455-2800 Prepaid Recycling Program for Lamps & Ballasts. One price includes everything you need, the container, shipping to the recycling center, recycling fees, and certificates of recycling.
Cleaning Up a Broken CFL
Before Cleanup
- Have people and pets leave the room.
- Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
- Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.
- Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb:
- Stiff paper or cardboard
- Sticky tape
- Damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces)
- Glass jar with a metal lid or a sealable plastic bag
- DO NOT VACUUM. Vacuuming is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken. Vacuuming could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor.
- Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
- Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.
- Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
- If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also maintains information on the safe disposal of CFLs. *Source: www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html
CFL disposal facts
Mercury Products page
E-waste disposal page
Hazardous Household Waste page
Battery disposal page