Lamp (Bulb) Recycling Program

Vermonters buy over a million energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs every year. Fluorescent bulbs (including compact fluorescent lamps-CFLs) contain mercury. When they are thrown in the trash, mercury is released into the environment and ends up in the fish we eat. Mercury containing bulbs, by Vermont law, cannot be placed in the regular trash but instead must be recycled.

What kinds of bulbs contain mercury?

• 8' or 4' linear fluorescent bulbs
• Compact fluorescent bulbs
• Linear fluorescent bulbs such as - tanning bulbs, grow bulbs, black lights and smaller (12", 18", 24" etc.) bulbs
• U-tubes
• Circular fluorescent bulbs
• HID car headlights (appear blue when lit)
• High Intenisty Discharge (HID) bulbs (such as: mercury vapor, metal halide, etc.)

Vermont residents, small businesses and institutions (such as schools) can recycle fluorescent bulbs at a number of retail locations (see link below). This is a new recycling program, so check back frequently as more retail locations are added to the list. Some locations may only be accepting compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) at this time. Any number of CFLs can be accepted and there is a limit of ten or fewer of other bulbs (such as linear tubes) per visit.

List of Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Locations

Note: Broken bulbs are not accepted. If you have questions, please contact us at 800-974-9559.