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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City of Palo Alto Household Hazardous Waste Station Program | 2501 Embarcadero Way | Palo Alto | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Only 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste per visit. Must be a Palo Alto resident, proof of residency is required. | |
Standard 5&10 Ace Hardware | 3545 California St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5-light limit per trip | |
Lowe's | 811 E. Arques Ave | Sunnyvale | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Home Depot (San Leandro) | 1933 Davis St. | San Leandro | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Brownies Hardware | 1563 Polk St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Grand Lake Ace Hardware | 1221 Grand Ave. | Piedmont | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Standard Plumbing | 144 Clement St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
West County HHW Collection Facility | 101 Pittsburg Ave. | Richmond | Recycle | Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee | ||
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Program (Fremont Facility) | 41149 Boyce Rd. | Fremont | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps & ballasts | |
g2Revolution |
8585 Pyott Road Suite 100 |
Lake in the Hills | Recycle | Mail-in for a Fee | No LED bulbs, or broken CFLS | |
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Oakland Facility) | 2100 East 7th Street | Oakland | Recycle | Free Drop-off | lamps & ballasts | |
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Livermore Facility) | 5584 La Ribera Street | Livermore | Recycle | Free Drop-off | lamps & ballasts | |
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Hayward Facility) | 2091 West Winton Avenue | Hayward | Recycle | Free Drop-off | lamps & ballasts | |
Republic Services, Inc. Mail Back Service | 42600 Boyce Rd | Fremont | Recycle | Mail-in for a Fee | ||
Delta HHW Collection Facility | 2550 Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy | Antioch | Recycle | Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee | ||
Central Contra Costa HHW Collection Facility | 4797 Imhoff Pl. | Martinez | Recycle | Free Drop-off | ||
WM Think Green From Home | 172 98th Ave | Oakland | Recycle | Mail-in for a Fee | & ballasts. Online service. Programs for residents and businesses. | |
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Fremont Facility) |
41149 Boyce Rd. (At the Fremont Transfer Station - follow the trucks) |
Fremont | Recycle | Free Drop-off | lamps & ballasts | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Program (Oakland Facility) | 2100 East 7th Street | Oakland | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps & ballasts | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Program (Hayward Facility) | 2091 West Winton Avenue | Hayward | 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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