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Light Bulbs - CFLs
Do not throw fluorescent or other mercury-containing lights in the trash or recycling bins. High intensity discharge, metal halide, sodium and neon lights all contain mercury as well. It’s illegal and mercury exposure can harm the brain, heart, and immune and nervous systems. Mercury products contaminate California’s drinking water, fish, soil, and air when they are not managed properly. The mercury limit in drinking water is 2 parts per billion in California, since even low quantities are extremely hazardous.
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.
Be sure to transport in a way that prevents breakage. If a light breaks, refer to epa.gov/cfl. 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!
How are lights recycled? Lights must be recycled at EPA-approved sites. Glass is recycled or landfilled, recovered metal is recycled, and mercury is stored, disposed, or reused.
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- Safe Disposal
2254 Polk St., San Francisco • (415) 674-8913There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
5435 Geary Blvd., San Francisco • (415) 666-3380There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
1695 Mission St., San Francisco • (415) 621-8511There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
140 Pine St., San Francisco • (415) 362-7744There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
3029 Fillmore St., San Francisco • (415) 292-2950There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
5166 3rd St., San Francisco • (415) 822-2655There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
1279 Pacific Ave., San Francisco • (415) 441-0941There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
1821 Taraval St., San Francisco • (415) 566-1511There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
2075 Market St., San Francisco • (415) 934-9010There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
929 Geneva Ave., San Francisco • (415) 239-8998There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
32 West Portal Ave., San Francisco • (415) 681-6717Limit of 5 bulbs per tripFree Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
724 Irving St., San Francisco • (415) 731-2038There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
501 Tunnel Ave., San Francisco • (415) 330-1400Limit 30 bulbs per month FREE - $3/bulb each additional bulb.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
, San Francisco • (415) 330-1405San Francisco Residents only.Free Pick-up -
- Safe Disposal
501 Tunnel Ave., San Francisco • (415) 330-1425First 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 ONLYFree Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee -
- Safe Disposal
1629 Haight St., San Francisco • (415) 431-3392There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
512 Divisadero St., San Francisco • (415) 552-1168There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
1698 Post St., San Francisco • (415) 931-5510There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
3545 California St., San Francisco • (415) 751-5767There is a 5-light limit per tripFree Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
144 Clement St., San Francisco • (415) 221-1888There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
6122 Geary Blvd., San Francisco • (415) 752-1888There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
438 8th St., San Francisco • (415) 621-1888There is a 5 light limit per trip.Free Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
30677 Huntwood Ave, Hayward • (510) 429-1129Mail-in recycling kit only. Lamps including but not limited to: traditional straight, U-shaped and coated fluorescents, as well as mercury vapor, high-pressure sodium, metal-halide, ultraviolet, ARC, and compact fluorescent & HID lampsPick-up for a Fee, Mail-in for a Fee -
- Recycle
2091 West Winton Avenue, Hayward • (800) 606-6606lamps & ballastsFree Drop-off -
- Safe Disposal
3700 Thornton Ave., Fremont • (510) 797-3700No large quantities.Free Drop-off