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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Environmental Logistics |
Northern CA Office 3200 Depot Rd |
Hayward | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | All bulbs | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Program (Hayward Facility) | 2091 West Winton Avenue | Hayward | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps & ballasts | |
Clean Earth (AERC) (Hayward) | 30677 Huntwood Ave | Hayward | Safe Disposal | Drop-off for a Fee, Pick-up for a Fee | 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 | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Drop-in Program (Livermore Facility) | 5584 La Ribera Street | Livermore | Safe Disposal | Drop-off for a Fee | 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. | |
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Livermore Facility) | 5584 La Ribera Street | Livermore | Recycle | Free Drop-off | lamps & ballasts | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Program (Livermore Facility) | 5584 La Ribera Street | Livermore | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps & ballasts | |
Central Contra Costa HHW Collection Facility | 4797 Imhoff Pl. | Martinez | Recycle | Free Drop-off | ||
Stanford Electric Works | 126 San Antonio Circle | Mountain View | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | This item is hazardous and must be disposed of properly. | |
ewasteCollective (Novato) | 42 Digital Drive #3 | Novato | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Ballasts Only | |
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program (Oakland Facility) | 2100 East 7th Street | Oakland | Recycle | Free Drop-off | lamps & ballasts | |
WM Think Green From Home | 172 98th Ave | Oakland | Recycle | Mail-in for a Fee | & ballasts. Online service. Programs for residents and businesses. | |
Markus Hardware | 625 3rd Street | Oakland | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | No large quantities. | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Program (Oakland Facility) | 2100 East 7th Street | Oakland | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Unbroken lamps & ballasts | |
Cole Hardware (Rockridge) | 5533 College Ave | Oakland | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | 5 bulb limit per day (any combination of light bulb types). | |
Alameda County Business Hazardous Waste Drop-in Program (Oakland Facility) | 2100 East 7th Street | Oakland | Safe Disposal | Drop-off for a Fee | 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. | |
Hassett Ace Hardware | 875 Alma Street | Palo Alto | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
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. | |
Grand Lake Ace Hardware | 1221 Grand Ave. | Piedmont | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Pleasanton Transfer Station | 3110 Busch Rd. | Pleasanton | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | HHW drop off - residents only. No broken items! | |
West County HHW Collection Facility | 101 Pittsburg Ave. | Richmond | Recycle | Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee |
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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