Household Hazardous Waste
This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.
CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) are a type of energy efficient light bulb in which the glass tubing is curved or folded to fit into the shape of a traditional incandescent "light bulb," and include a compact electronic ballast in the base of the item.
This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.
Do not throw fluorescent or other mercury-containing lights in the trash or recycling bins. High intensity discharge, metal halide, sodium and neon lights all contain mercury as well. It’s illegal and mercury exposure can harm the brain, heart, and immune and nervous systems. Mercury products contaminate California’s drinking water, fish, soil, and air when they are not managed properly. The mercury limit in drinking water is 2 parts per billion in California, since even low quantities are extremely hazardous.
The following lamps are considered hazardous in California: fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, HID lamps, High intensity discharge lamps, metal halide lamps, sodium vapor lamps, grow lamps, Zenon lamps, headlights - auto, mercury vapor lamps, video projector lamps, ultraviolet lamps, UV lamps, water treatment lamps, sun lamps, tanning lamps, mercury containing lamps, LED lamps. The following ballasts are considered hazardous in California: light fixture ballasts, lamp ballasts, electronic ballasts, fluorescent light ballasts, HID light ballasts, PCB containing ballasts, no-PCB ballasts.
Be sure to transport in a way that prevents breakage. If a light breaks, refer to epa.gov/cfl. If a bulb breaks, open a window to disperse mercury vapor, collect the shards with tape, and place in a closed and sealed container—do not vacuum!
How are lights recycled? Lights must be recycled at EPA-approved sites. Glass is recycled or landfilled, recovered metal is recycled, and mercury is stored, disposed, or reused.
Vendor | Address | City | Destination | Disposal Method | Notes | |
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Republic Services, Inc. Mail Back Service | 42600 Boyce Rd | Fremont | Recycle | Mail-in for a Fee | ||
Home Depot (Hayward) | 21787 Hesperian Blvd. | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Program (Hayward Facility) | 2091 West Winton Avenue | Hayward | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps & ballasts | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Drop-in Program (Hayward Facility) | 2091 West Winton Avenue | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps only & ballasts. Boxes for lamps available for purchase to then fill and drop-off. | |
Clean Earth (AERC) (Hayward) | 30677 Huntwood Ave | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee, Mail-in for a Fee | Mail-in recycling kit only. Lamps including but not limited to: traditional straight, U-shaped and coated fluorescents, as well as mercury vapor, high-pressure sodium, metal-halide, ultraviolet, ARC, and compact fluorescent & HID lamps | |
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Hayward Facility) | 2091 West Winton Avenue | Hayward | Recycle | Free Drop-off | lamps & ballasts | |
Home Depot | 1625 Sycamore Ave. | Hercules | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
g2Revolution |
8585 Pyott Road Suite 100 |
Lake in the Hills | Recycle | Mail-in for a Fee | No LED bulbs, or broken CFLS | |
g2Revolution |
8585 Pyott Road Suite 100 |
Lake in the Hills | Safe Disposal | Mail-in for a Fee | No LED bulbs, or broken CFLS | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Program (Livermore Facility) | 5584 La Ribera Street | Livermore | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps & ballasts | |
Vasco Road Landfill & Recycling Drop-off | 4001 N. Vasco Rd. | Livermore | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Construction & Demolition | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Drop-in Program (Livermore Facility) | 5584 La Ribera Street | Livermore | Safe Disposal | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps only & ballasts. Boxes for lamps available for purchase to then fill and drop-off. | |
Lowe's (Livermore) | 4255 1st St. | Livermore | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Livermore Facility) | 5584 La Ribera Street | Livermore | Recycle | Free Drop-off | lamps & ballasts | |
Bill's Ace Hardware | 3610 Pacheco Blvd. | Martinez | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Central Contra Costa HHW Collection Facility | 4797 Imhoff Pl. | Martinez | Recycle | Free Drop-off | ||
Stanford Electric Works | 126 San Antonio Circle | Mountain View | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | This item is hazardous and must be disposed of properly. | |
Home Depot (Newark) | 5401 Thornton Ave. | Newark | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Markus Hardware | 625 3rd Street | Oakland | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | No large quantities. | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Program (Oakland Facility) | 2100 East 7th Street | Oakland | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps & ballasts |
Special Action | Note | ||
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Alameda |
Residents may drop off fluorescent tubes & bulbs at the ACI Alameda office. ### |
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Albany |
To dispose of CFL Bulbs call WM(510) 613-8710 for your free Vaporlok Foil Bag. Place up to 6 used, unbroken CFLs inside the bag, and keep sealed at all times. Place bag on top of the Recyclables Cart. ### |
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Berkeley | |||
Castro Valley Sanitary District |
Bring to CVSan Recycles Day in April or August, or bring boxed to Pete's Ace Hardware at 2569 Castro Valley Blvd, Castro Valley, CA 94546. ### |
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Dublin | |||
Emeryville |
Single family and multifamily accounts can order mail-back collection container at no charge. All Emeryville customers call to order container: 510-613-8710. Not collected curbside. ### |
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Fremont | |||
Hayward | |||
Hayward (Oro Loma - L2) | |||
Livermore | |||
Newark | |||
Oakland | |||
Piedmont |
Place unbroken CFL's in Ziploc bag on top of the recycling cart. ### |
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Pleasanton | |||
San Leandro | |||
San Leandro (Oro Loma - L3) | |||
San Lorenzo (Oro Loma) | |||
Unincorporated Oro Loma (L1) | |||
Union City |
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