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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Standard Plumbing | 144 Clement St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
City Lights | 1585 Folsom St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Cliff's Variety | 479 Castro St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Center Hardware | 3003 3rd St | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Standard Plumbing | 6122 Geary Blvd. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Cole Hardware | 70 4th St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Glen Park Hardware | 685 Chenery St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 gallon limit per trip. | |
Universal Electric Supply Co. | 438 8th St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Cole Hardware | 956 Cole St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Cole Hardware | 2254 Polk St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Handy Handyman Ace Hardware | 2075 Market St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Creative Paint (5435 Geary) | 5435 Geary Blvd. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
J & J Hardware | 929 Geneva Ave. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Discount Builders Supply | 1695 Mission St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Papenhausen Hardware | 32 West Portal Ave. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Limit of 5 bulbs per trip | |
Financial District Ace Hardware | 140 Pine St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Progress Hardware | 724 Irving St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Fredericksen Hardware | 3029 Fillmore St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Recology San Francisco Transfer Station Public Recycling and Disposal Drop Off | 501 Tunnel Ave. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Limit 30 bulbs per month FREE - $3/bulb each additional bulb. | |
G Mazzei & Son Hardware | 5166 3rd St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. |
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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