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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Grand Lake Ace Hardware | 1221 Grand Ave. | Piedmont | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
ewasteCollective (Berkeley) |
620 Page Street (alongside the freeway) |
Berkeley | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | Ballasts Only | |
Cole Hardware, Vallejo St. | 627 Vallejo St | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Golden City Building Supply | 1279 Pacific Ave. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Stanford Electric Works | 126 San Antonio Circle | Mountain View | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | This item is hazardous and must be disposed of properly. | |
Pagano's Ace Hardware | 2298 South Shore Center | Alameda | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | No large quantities. CFL's no longer than 4 ft. | |
Republic Services Recycling Service Center (Fremont Residents) | 42600 Boyce Rd. | Fremont | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Center Hardware | 3003 3rd St | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light 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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
North State Environmental (South San Francisco) |
220 South Spruce Avenue Suite 200 |
South San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | ||
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 | |
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. |
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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