Light bulbs contain toxic heavy metals and other unpleasant substances. Therefore, they should be handled with care and treated as hazardous waste.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll divide the bulbs into three groups:
- Incandescent bulbs
- LED bulbs
- Everything else
Incandescent bulbs
Incandescent bulbs contain lead levels exceeding hazardous waste limits. If they’re thrown away in the regular garbage, this lead will sooner or later find its way into nature.
Lead is acutely and chronically poisonous to aquatic organisms and mammals. Even in small concentrations, lead poisoning may cause neurotoxic and immunologic problems. Lead can also cause fetal damage in humans and reduce fertility.
Lead accumulates in fish and mammals over time, and is only released at a very slow rate. Humans are mainly exposed to lead through polluted air and food.
LED bulbs
LED bulbs are relatively clean compared to other light sources, but since they in essence are electronic equipment, they should be recycled like a computer or other electronic equipment – but check with your local municipalities to make sure they end up where they should.
Everything else
This group includes, among others, fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Other more uncommon types of bulbs and lamps – like sodium-vapor lamps and high intensity discharge lamps – also belong in this group.
They all contain mercury – some contain just traces of it, others contain pure mercury vapor. None of them should ever, ever be just thrown into the garbage.
Mercury is the most dangerous heavy metal there is. It vaporises at normal room temperature, and is therefore easily spread.
Mercury vapor is highly dangerous to breathe in, and can cause major damage to the lungs and the nervous system. Mercury will also damage fetuses, genes, livers and kidneys. It may also cause mental illness.
Mercury accumulates in plants and animals – including humans. Once absorbed, it won’t be naturally released again.
If you happen to break a bulb or tube containing mercury, mercury vapor will be released. If this happens, you should aerate the room with plenty of fresh air immediately, clean up the remains of the bulb – make sure you put it in an airtight container – and then leave and stay out of the room for at least 15 minutes.
Where to recycle bulbs and lamps
Luckily, all is not doom and gloom, even if there aren’t any available bulbs without harmful substances in them. If they’re recycled at the proper locations, the lead and mercury will be disposed of properly and not allowed to enter the ecosystem.
The appropriate place for recycling will vary between locations. In Europe, many countries require any dealer selling products containing hazardous materials to accept the same product types for proper disposal. In the US (and Europe), your local IKEA store will happily accept light bulbs for recycling.
There’s also the excellent website earth911.com, which will help you find recycling centers across USA.
If the above doesn’t help, most municipalities will have some sort of system for collecting hazardous waste – contact them for details. Don’t be afraid to sound your displeasure if the details are hard to find, or if there isn’t any proper system in place.
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This post was tagged with: CFLs, compact fluorescent lamps, hazardous waste, light bulbs, light sources, lighting, toxins, waste
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BIG note: Home Depot has a program now to recycle CFL bulbs. Please spread the word!!!
@ecogrrl: Great, thanks