Household Hazardous Waste
This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.
A fluorescent tube is an energy efficient type of light source that contains mercury, includes tubes of all lengths.
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.
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. | |
Cole Hardware (Rockridge) | 5533 College Ave | Oakland | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | 5 bulb limit per day (any combination of light bulb types). | |
Cole Hardware | 2254 Polk St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Drop-in Program (Hayward Facility) | 2091 West Winton Avenue | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Paid Drop-off | Unbroken lamps only & ballasts. Boxes for lamps available for purchase to then fill and drop-off. 4' box & liner holds about 220 x T-12. 8' box & liner holds about 100 x T-12. | |
RecycLights | 20283 Santa Maria Ave | Castro Valley | Safe Disposal | Paid Pick-up | All recycling cost are included. Simply place lamps in container and call RecycLights toll free when completely full for pick-up. | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Drop-in Program (Livermore Facility) | 5584 La Ribera Street | Livermore | Safe Disposal | Paid Drop-off | Unbroken lamps only & ballasts. Boxes for lamps available for purchase to then fill and drop-off. 4' box & liner holds about 220 x T-12. 8' box & liner holds about 100 x T-12. | |
Safety Kleen (San Jose) | 1147 N 10th Street | San Jose | Safe Disposal | Paid Pick-up | ||
Standard Plumbing | 6122 Geary Blvd. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Shoreway Environmental Center (SEC) | 333 Shoreway Road | San Carlos | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | 6 per visit, less than 6ft long. | |
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. | |
Hassett Ace Hardware | 875 Alma Street | Palo Alto | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Universal Electric Supply Co. | 438 8th St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Home Depot | 1781 E. Bayshore Rd | East Palo Alto | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Financial District Ace Hardware | 140 Pine St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
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. | |
Clean Earth (AERC) (Hayward) | 30677 Huntwood Ave | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Paid Drop-off, Paid Pick-up | Mail-in & drop off. Mercury Containing Lamps including: arc, deuterium, germicidal, high pressure sodium, mercury vapor, metal halide, neon, ultraviolet, and florescent to include circular, compact, crushed, coated, straight and u-tubes | |
Biologic Environmental Services & Waste Solutions | 23490 Connecticut St | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Paid Pick-up | Call for specific info on this waste | |
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. |
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 | |||
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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