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
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

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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