Light bulbs: fluorescent

Special attention

It is illegal to put fluorescent light bulbs in the garbage.

Please review other disposal options for this item from the list below.


Recommended disposal options

Recycle at a drop-off location

Fluorescent lights must be recycled because they contain mercury. It is illegal to throw them in the trash. Find a hardware store or business that accepts fluorescent lights for recycling.

Hazardous materials precautions

Place bulbs in their original packaging to prevent breakage. If you no longer have the original packaging, cushion bulbs using blankets, towels or newspaper. Do not tape bulbs together.

Broken fluorescent light bulbs: The occasional broken CFL will not affect your health; however, broken CFLs do need to be cleaned up properly. Learn how to clean up Broken CFLs on the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Other disposal options

Hennepin County drop-off facilities

See restrictions and instructions below:

Drop-off facilities accept:

Fluorescent light bulbs of all shapes and sizes, including circles, compact fluorescent bulbs, tubes and u-shaped; high intensity discharge (HID) bulbs.

Hennepin County also accepts broken fluorescent bulbs -- place the broken pieces in a sealed plastic bag first.

Fee

No charge

Drop-off limit

25 bulbs per household per 12 month period

Materials preparation

Separate bulbs and ballasts from fixtures before coming to the drop-off facility. Staff will not separate the ballasts from light fixtures for you.

Hazardous materials precautions

Place bulbs in their original packaging to prevent breakage. If you no longer have the original packaging, cushion bulbs using blankets, towels or newspaper. Do not tape bulbs together.

Broken fluorescent light bulbs: The occasional broken CFL will not affect your health; however, broken CFLs do need to be cleaned up properly. Learn how to clean up Broken CFLs on the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Drop-off facilities do not accept:

No incandescent or halogen lights.

No fluorescent light bulbs used for business purposes, including home businesses and property managers.

Find fluorescent light bulbs recycling options for businesses on p.2 of Hazardous Waste Disposal Companies (PDF).

Fluorescent bulb

light bulbs fluorescent

Rethink

Both LED and compact fluorescent lights bulbs use less energy than incandescent light bulbs. There are many lighting options available today. Learn about lighting options on the Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Team’s Right Light Guide.

Household hazardous waste

For information about storing and transporting fluorescent light bulbs, see guidelines for household hazardous waste.

Learn more