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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Photo Waste Recycling Co. |
2980 Kerner Boulevard Northern CA Headquarters |
San Rafael | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | ||
Pleasanton Transfer Station | 3110 Busch Rd. | Pleasanton | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | HHW drop off - residents only. No broken items! | |
Progress Hardware | 724 Irving St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Quick Light Recycling | 170 South Spruce Ave | South San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | ||
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. | |
Recology SF Business Haz. Waste Drop-Off (VSQG Program) | 501 Tunnel Ave. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee | First 30 bulbs or tubes are free - $3.00/unit for greater than 30. Bulbs and tubes must be delivered in sealed boxes and labeled as Universal Waste. Use Public Disposal Area or make appointment for VSQG Service. SF businesses ONLY | |
Recology SF Household Hazardous Waste Facility | 501 Tunnel Ave. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | Limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds per day of all household hazardous waste. San Francisco residents only. Address verification required. Open Thursday-Saturday only from 8am-4pm. | |
Recology SF Household Hazardous Waste Home Collection | 501 Tunnel Ave | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Pick-up | San Francisco Residents only. | |
RecycLights | 20283 Santa Maria Ave | Castro Valley | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | All recycling cost are included. Simply place lamps in container and call RecycLights toll free when completely full for pick-up. | |
Republic Services Recycling Service Center (Fremont Residents) | 42600 Boyce Rd. | Fremont | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | ||
Republic Services, Inc. Mail Back Service | 42600 Boyce Rd | Fremont | Recycle | Mail-in for a Fee | and ballasts | |
Revolt Recycling | 657 143rd Ave | San Leandro | Safe Disposal | Drop-off for a Fee | lamps & ballasts. Ballasts - PCB Lighting Ballast; Non-PCB Ballast; Capacitors & Transformers; Mercury Containing Devices. MERCURY CONTAINING DEVICES MUST BE DELIVERED TO REVOLT | |
Roberts Hardware | 1629 Haight St. | San Francisco | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | There is a 5 light limit per trip. | |
Safety Kleen (San Jose) | 1147 N 10th Street | San Jose | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | ||
Safety Kleen Systems (Rohnert Park) | 5750 Commerce Blvd | Rohnert Park | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | ||
Safety Kleen Systems (Sacramento) | 6000 88th Street | Sacramento | Safe Disposal | Pick-up for a Fee | ||
San Francisco Recycling | 170 S. Spruce Ave | South San Francisco | Recycle | Pick-up for a Fee | And non-PCB lamp ballast. | |
SF Hardware | 512 Divisadero St. | 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. | |
SMaRT Station | 301 Carl Rd | Sunnyvale | Safe Disposal | Free Drop-off | This item is hazardous and must be disposed of properly. |
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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