Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal
for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto

What do I do with:

Near:

SEARCH

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
ewasteCollective (Berkeley) 620 Page Street
(alongside the freeway)
Berkeley Safe Disposal Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up Ballasts Only
Biologic Environmental Services & Waste Solutions 23490 Connecticut St Hayward Safe Disposal Pick-up for a Fee Call for specific info on this waste
Creative Paint (5435 Geary) 5435 Geary Blvd. 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.
Pagano's Ace Hardware 2298 South Shore Center Alameda Safe Disposal Free Drop-off No large quantities. CFL's no longer than 4 ft.
Cole Hardware 345 9th St San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
Financial District Ace Hardware 140 Pine St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
Republic Services Recycling Service Center (Fremont Residents) 42600 Boyce Rd. Fremont Safe Disposal Free Drop-off
Cole Hardware, Vallejo St. 627 Vallejo 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.
Fredericksen Hardware 3029 Fillmore St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center 7501 Schmidt Ln. El Cerrito Safe Disposal Free Drop-off We accept Fluorescent Tubes from residents within the Recyclemore service area. Proof of residency required. Fees apply for large quantities: 30 feet or more of tubes or 15 or more bulbs. Fees are subject to increase each fiscal year. Please see office staff to pay fees or to ask questions. 
Berkeley Recycling Center 669 Gilman St.
(corner of 2nd & Gilman)
Berkeley Safe Disposal Free Drop-off & lamp ballasts. Free -4 ft tubes- up to 10; 8 ft tubes- up to 6. Small fee per bulb over. Also accepts circular, u-shape & industrial lights for a small fee.
Glen Park Hardware 685 Chenery St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 gallon limit per trip.
G Mazzei & Son Hardware 5166 3rd St. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off There is a 5 light limit per trip.
North State Environmental (South San Francisco) 220 South Spruce Avenue
Suite 200
South San Francisco Safe Disposal Pick-up for a Fee
SMaRT Station 301 Carl Rd Sunnyvale Safe Disposal Free Drop-off This item is hazardous and must be disposed of properly.
Dale Hardware 3700 Thornton Ave. Fremont Safe Disposal Free Drop-off No large quantities.
Recology San Francisco Transfer Station Public Recycling and Disposal Drop Off 501 Tunnel Ave. San Francisco Safe Disposal Free Drop-off Fluorescent Tubes/CFLs First 30 per month are free. After first 30 free units per month, $4.00/unit.
Lighting Resources Recyclers (EZ on the Earth) 400 N Forsythe St Franklin Safe Disposal Mail-in for a Fee and ballasts

Curbside Service

Special Action Note
Alameda
Residents may drop off fluorescent tubes & bulbs at the ACI Alameda office.
###
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.
###
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.
###
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

Questions? Comments?   We're here to help!      Get in touch!

Additional Tools

  • Item Search
  • Vendor Search
  • Information for Vendors

Grab the mobile apps for answers on the go:

Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
Brought to you by A public agency reducing waste in Alameda County since 1976.