Some LED light bulb recycling drop-off locations may ask you to wrap each bulb separately in a plastic bag to reduce breakage and to protect workers if bulbs do break.Turn off the lamp or light before removing the LED bulb from the fixture.Because LEDs last so long, you will probably use your LED light bulb for a long time before you need to worry about recycling.įind Recycling Guides for Other Materials LED Light Bulb Recycling Preparation LEDs are even more efficient than compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, which are up to 70% more energy efficient compared to incandescent bulbs. These bulbs produce light up to 90% more efficiently than old-school incandescent light. Please email Nick Frisella ( for additional information and pricing.Light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs are a very high-efficiency lighting option. Metro Lighting also offers low cost and not-for-profit fluorescent lamp recycling. Customers can bring their unbroken CFL bulbs into any Metro Lighting location. Louis, in conjunction with Ameren Missouri, offers free CFL recycling. To find out more information please visit Metro Lighting St. Environmental Protection Agency recommends evacuating and airing out a room for at least 15 minutes after breaking a fluorescent light bulb. When broken indoors, bulbs may emit sufficient mercury vapor to present health concerns, and the U.S. Recyclers can recover the mercury and other components for reuse. To prevent the release of mercury, the fluorescent light bulbs should be taken to a recycler before they break.

Once in the environment, mercury can be converted to an organic form that accumulates in living organisms and contaminates the food chain. These discarded bulbs have the potential to release up to 4 tons of mercury per year into the environment. Mercury in bulbs is typically present as either elemental mercury liquid, vapor, or both, since the liquid evaporates at ambient temperature.Īpproximately 670 million fluorescent light bulbs are discarded each year in the United States. There is also the potential for personal exposure to mercury from broken fluorescent light bulbs thrown in a dumpster, trash compactor, or trash can. This disposal method leads to the release of mercury into the environment. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled.ĬFLs or other fluorescent light bulbs that are thrown into the trash are usually sent to the landfill.Recycling CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs allows the reuse of the glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights.CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs often break when thrown into a dumpster, trash can or compactor, or when they end up in a landfill or incinerator.Recycling prevents the release of mercury into the environment.

Why is recycling fluorescent bulbs important? While we can recycle for you, Lens Master is currently a cheaper alternative. NOTE: We are working to find a new recycling vender.

Recycle light bulbs near me