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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Papenhausen Hardware | 32 West Portal Ave. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Limit of 5 tubes per trip | |
Canyon Market | 2815 Diamond St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Up to and not exceeding 4 feet. There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Markus Hardware | 625 3rd Street | Oakland | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | No large quantities. | |
Grand Lake Ace Hardware | 1221 Grand Ave. | Piedmont | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
ewaste Collective (Berkeley) |
620 Page Street (alongside the freeway) |
Berkeley | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up | Ballasts Only | |
Progress Hardware | 724 Irving St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Charity Cultural Services Center | 731 Commercial St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
BulbCycle |
7700 Regents Road #113 Suite 547 |
San Diego | Safe Disposal | Mail-in for a Fee | ||
EZ on the Earth |
1919 Williams Street Suite 350 |
Simi Valley | Safe Disposal | Drop-off for a Fee | ||
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 | ||
City Lights | 1585 Folsom 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). | |
Shoreway Environmental Center (SEC) | 333 Shoreway Road | San Carlos | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | 6 per visit, less than 6ft long. | |
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. | |
Cliff's Variety | 479 Castro 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 | ||
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. |
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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