How to dispose of light bulbs
Start with your city: most cities take light bulbs through hazardous waste and drop-off sites. Choose your city below to jump to its rules, or read the options that apply anywhere.
Your city’s rules for light bulbs
| Hazardous? | Sometimes. CFLs and fluorescent tubes contain mercury; incandescent and LED do not. Some states ban mercury lamps from landfills. (epa.gov) |
|---|
Ways to get rid of light bulbs
Household hazardous waste drop-off
Local HHW collections. (epa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Retailer take-back
Hardware and other retailers (check store first). (epa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Retailer take-back
The Home Depot recycling station accepts CFL bulbs. (ecoactions.homedepot.com, checked October 30, 2026)
Retailer take-back
Lowe's recycling center accepts CFLs. (corporate.lowes.com, checked October 30, 2026)
Manufacturer program
Mail-back recycling kits. (epa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Rules to know
State programs and laws
| State | Program or law | Source |
|---|---|---|
| California | Fluorescent lamps/tubes, metal halide and sodium vapor lamps are banned from the trash; LED lights should not go in the trash either. | calrecycle.ca.gov |
| Maine | All mercury-added bulbs (CFLs, fluorescent tubes, HID, neon, etc.) must be recycled - illegal to put in the trash. Sale of new CFL/linear fluorescent lamps restricted from Jan 1, 2026. | maine.gov |
| Minnesota | Mercury and mercury-containing devices or products (as defined in Minn. Stat. 116.92) from which the mercury has not been removed may not be placed in solid waste or wastewater systems. | revisor.mn.gov |
| North Carolina | Fluorescent lights and mercury-containing thermostats are banned from construction and demolition debris landfills (photovoltaic modules added effective December 1, 2026). | deq.nc.gov |
| Vermont | Mercury-containing bulbs are banned from the trash; recycle via MercuryLampRecycle drop-offs. Mercury thermostats are collected at drop-offs with a $5 credit/coupon. | dec.vermont.gov |
| Washington | LightRecycle Washington: free recycling of fluorescent and other mercury-containing lights bought at retail in WA, funded by a 95-cent environmental handling charge per bulb; individuals may recycle unlimited screw-base CFLs, up to 15 pin-based/linear fluorescents and 2 HID lights per day. | ecology.wa.gov |
Cautions
- State requirements. “Some states and local jurisdictions have more stringent regulations than U.S. EPA does, and may require that you recycle CFLs and other mercury-containing light bulbs.” (epa.gov)
Related guides
All disposal guidesChecked October 30, 2026 against federal, state and program pages. Local rules come first: your city’s page shows its own pickup and drop-off rules.