Residents
Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Some local hardware/home improvement stores: Lowes, Menards. These locations do not typically accept ballasts. Call ahead to verify.
Businesses
Light bulbs with hazardous materials are a regulated waste stream for businesses. Learn how to recycle them at your company.
Which Ones Do I Recycle?
Contains Mercury
- Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs, the swirl bulb)
- Fluorescent tubes
- High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, includes:
- metal halide
- mercury vapor
- high pressure sodium lamps
- some neon lights
Garbage
These types of bulbs do not contain mercury or hazardous material and can be thrown in the garbage.
- Halogen incandescent bulbs
- Incandescent bulbs
- LED Light Bulbs
LED (light emitting diodes) bulbs do not contain mercury or other hazardous chemicals. These are not accepted through most drop-off options listed above. It is recommended that you double-bag when you dispose of them. Our Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off does accept them and the material is recycled.