Universal Waste Lamps

"Lamp" means the bulb or tube portion of an electric lighting device. A lamp is specifically designed to produce radiant energy, most often in the ultraviolet, visible, and infra-red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Examples of common lamps include, but are not limited to, fluorescent, high intensity discharge, neon, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps.

All fluorescent and other lamps containing mercury are considered universal waste when they are discarded. A ”universal waste lamp“ is defined as the bulb or tube portion of an electric lighting device. It is estimated that nearly 75 million waste fluorescent lamps and tubes are generated annually in California. These lamps contain more than a half a ton of mercury. Although fluorescent and some high intensity discharge (HID) lamps contain mercury, they are more energy efficient than incandescent or halogen bulbs. Because they require less energy, these lamps reduce the amount of pollution from energy production, which includes the emission of mercury from coal combustion.

As of February 8, 2006, all fluorescent lamps and tubes in California, including those from households, must be recycled and may not be disposed of in the trash. When mercury-containing lamps are placed in the trash, the lamps are broken and mercury is released to the environment. Mercury vapors from broken lamps can be absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream. Mercury from broken lamps can also be washed by rainwater into rivers, lakes and oceans, where it bioaccumulates in the food chain. The most likely source of human exposure to mercury is eating fish. Human exposure to organic mercury can result in long-lasting health effects, especially if it occurs during fetal development. Scientists have linked mercury poisoning to impaired childhood development and nervous system, kidney and liver damage.

We've provided a Mercury Lamp Guide to help you identify these types of lamps by sight.

There are no non-mercury fluorescent or HID bulbs available at this time. Green tip or low-mercury fluorescent lighting contains less mercury, but still SHOULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE TRASH.  Any mercury-containing lamp, regardless of the amount of mercury, should not be discarded in the trash and must be recycled. Labeled, mercury-containing products are banned from landfills.  Recycling options differ depending on whether the bulbs are from household, business, or other non-household use.

Households may utilize local household hazardous waste collection centers and events for disposal of mercury-containing lamps. Refer to Mercury - Containing Lamps: Handling and Recycling Guidelines for handling and disposal instructions. The total amount of household hazardous waste that may be transported to a collection site is limited to a liquid volume of 15 gallons and a dry weight of 125 pounds. In addition, a household may transport twelve or fewer non-leaking fluorescent light ballasts to a collection opportunity.

Store bulbs in an area and in a way that will prevent them from breaking. Do not break or crush bulbs because mercury may be released. If a bulb is accidentally broken, see Guidelines for bulb breakage clean-up procedure.

Locations for household disposal of universal waste lamps

Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Universal Waste Generators should refer to the Small Quantity Generator page.