How To Dispose Of Light Bulbs

Last Updated: March 23rd, 2022

Today, many households in the UK are home to energy-efficient light bulbs. They can be recycled at dedicated centres in and around the UK. They can save you money, in the long run, thanks to their long-lasting nature, and can cut down on waste since you don’t need to change them as often as the older standard filament bulbs.

With many households making the change to energy-efficient LED lighting, it’s rare to find a home with any of the older style bulbs. However, if you find that your home has some of these filament bulbs, it’s important to know that they cannot be recycled, and should be thrown away with your rubbish.

What to do with old light bulbs

Although light bulbs can be recycled, there are many that have to be disposed of and recycled in a certain way. For example, some people may have recessed lighting, strip lighting or even fluorescent tubes. Read on to find out how to dispose of light bulbs in the correct fashion.

Standard incandescent light bulbs

A popular choice for the home, standard incandescent light bulbs aren’t accepted by many recycling centres and will need to be disposed of with regular household waste. These types of bulbs hold no toxic materials, and so they can be put in the regular bin without any repercussions. For practical purposes, you may want to store the bulb in its original packaging before throwing it away. This will ensure that if it breaks inside your bin, it can’t tear or damage anything.

Halogen light bulbs

Many people ask the question “can you recycle halogen light bulbs” and although some believe that they are better for the environment, the answer to that question is no. They cannot be recycled, and are on par with the standard bulb. They contain no toxic material and can be thrown away in your normal rubbish bin.

Energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs

 

Also known as compact fluorescent lamps, these bulbs can be recycled. They contain a small amount of mercury and shouldn’t be thrown in with your regular rubbish. Take energy saving bulbs to your local recycling plant to find out where they should be recycled.

LED bulbs

All of the materials used in making LED bulbs can be recycled. They don’t contain any toxic material and should be taken to your local recycling plant for disposal.

Fluorescent tubes

Much like energy-saving bulbs, fluorescent tubes contain mercury. Commercial lighting that features fluorescent tubing can contain enough mercury to pollute the environment and water supplies, so it’s imperative that you dispose of them appropriately. Take these to a recycling plant.