Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal
for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto
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Light Bulbs - Fluorescent Tubes

A fluorescent tube is an energy efficient type of light source that contains mercury, includes tubes of all lengths.

Household Hazardous Waste

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 toxic mercury-containing lights in the trash or recycling bins. High intensity discharge, metal halide, sodium and neon lights all contain toxic mercury as well. It is illegal to throw mercury lights in the trash.

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! See EPA guidance for cleanup (epa.gov/cfl).

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.

When improperly managed, mercury products contaminate California’s drinking water, fish populations, soil, and air. The mercury limit in drinking water is 2 parts per billion in California, since even low quantities are extremely hazardous. Mercury exposure can harm the brain, heart, and immune and nervous systems of your employees, contractors, and tenants. Mercury exposure is especially dangerous to children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

Vendors

Vendor Address City Destination Disposal Method Notes
Recology SF Household Hazardous Waste Facility 501 Tunnel Ave. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds per day of all household hazardous waste. San Francisco residents only. Address verification required. Open Thursday-Saturday only from 8am-4pm.
Glen Park Hardware 685 Chenery St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 gallon limit per trip.
Great Wall Hardware 1821 Taraval St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
Duke's Hardware (2526 Noriega) 2526 Noriega St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
Recology SF Business Haz. Waste Drop-Off (VSQG Program) 501 Tunnel Ave. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee First 30 bulbs or tubes are free - $3.00/unit for greater than 30. Bulbs and tubes must be delivered in sealed boxes and labeled as Universal Waste. Use Public Disposal Area or make appointment for VSQG Service. SF businesses ONLY
Handy Handyman Ace Hardware 2075 Market St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
Batteries Plus 1450 Bush San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
Roberts Hardware 1629 Haight St. 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.
Brownies Hardware 1563 Polk St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
SF Hardware 512 Divisadero 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 tubes per trip
Canyon Market 2815 Diamond St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Up to and not exceeding 4 feet. There is a 5 light limit per trip.
Soko Hardware 1698 Post 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.
Charity Cultural Services Center 731 Commercial St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
Standard 5&10 Ace Hardware 3545 California 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.
Standard Plumbing 144 Clement 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.

Curbside Service

Special Action Note
Alameda
Residents may drop off fluorescent tubes & bulbs at the ACI Alameda office.
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Albany
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
Pleasanton
San Leandro
San Leandro (Oro Loma - L3)
San Lorenzo (Oro Loma)
Unincorporated Oro Loma (L1)
Union City

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