Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL Bulbs)

Example of a compact fluorescent lightbulb
  • DON’T throw them away (they contain harmful mercury which will contaminate our soil & water)
  • DON’T put in curbside recycling
  • DO drop them off at a collection location to be recycled
  • DO consider LED bulbs instead

About These Items

These light bulbs are recognizable by their form factor, which usually involves thin tubes folded into the general shape of a traditional lightbulb. Sometimes these folded tubes are encased in an exterior shell. These bulbs are hazardous waste. They can not be recycled via curbside recycling and should also not be placed in the trash. CFLs contain mercury which can leak into our soil and water supply when placed in a landfill (or if broken when squished in your trash can!)

There are several places around the city of Pittsburgh where you can drop off CFLs for free recycling (see below). However, most places will not take broken bulbs. Broken CFL bulbs need to be cleaned up carefully to avoid health hazard.

Broken CFLs are a Health Hazard!

Broken CFLs can leak hazardous mercury vapor into your home. If you break a CFL bulb: clear the room of pets and people, open windows and doors, and carefully sweep the pieces into a seal-able bag (without touching the pieces). Do not vacuum! See complete instructions on the EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/cfl/cleaning-broken-cfl

Places that Accept CFL bulbs for Recycling

If you have a broken CFL bulb, most places will not accept them. City facilities may tell you to put it in the trash. However, there is one local facility that does recycle broken CFL bulbs, Batteries Plus Bulbs. They have several locations in the Pittsburgh area. The broken bulb should be contained in a sealed baggie and there is a $1.67 fee per bulb (as of Spring 2019). They also accept unbroken CFL bulbs for a fee of $0.66/bulb.

Other Places to Recycle Unbroken CFL Bulbs

  • Home Depot: Local home depots typically have CFL recycling receptacles near their customer service desks.
  • PRC: The Pennsylvania Resource Council accepts CFL bulbs for free at their collection events for City of Pittsburgh residents for $0.35/lb. They will not take broken bulbs.
  • IKEA: The IKEA at Robinson Town Center has a bulb recycling receptacle inside the lobby at the store exit.
  • Westmoreland Cleanways Recycling Center: This recycling center is an hour outside Pittsburgh and offers recycling options for a number of hard-to-recycle items. CFL bulbs are accepted, cost is $1 each.

Do you know another service that accepts CFL bulbs, particularly broken CFLs? Let us know!

Consider Switching to LED Bulbs

LED bulbs generally last longer, have a better light range, and use less energy. They still should be recycled through drop-off recycling programs, but they do not contain mercury or other toxic chemicals so they are less hazardous to our community if they end up in the trash.

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