Light Bulb Recycling Member Guide — Scrollable Preview

Batteries and bulbs recycling material guide graphic

Pickup material guide

Recycle Household Light Bulbs with The ReCollective

Accepted household light bulbs are collected four months each year with The ReCollective’s Hard-to-Recycle service.

Use this guide to identify accepted bulbs, prepare them for pickup, and understand which bulbs require a separate add-on.

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Light bulb recycling pickup with The ReCollective

Collected 4 months each year

Check the collection month Household bulbs are collected in March, June, September, and December.

Keep every bulb intact Broken, cracked, or shattered bulbs are not accepted in the Batteries & Bulbs bag.

Use the Batteries & Bulbs bag Place accepted household bulbs in the labeled canvas bag, then put it inside the black waterproof bag.

Fluorescent tubes are an add-on Tubes up to 4 feet require a $4-per-tube add-on and must be placed beside the black bag.

What we accept

Accepted Household Light Bulbs

MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER & DECEMBER

Incandescent bulbs Standard household incandescent bulbs are accepted when they are intact and removed from the fixture.

CFL bulbs Compact fluorescent bulbs are accepted when intact. Handle them carefully because they contain a small amount of mercury.

LED bulbs Common household LED bulbs are accepted when intact and separated from lamps, fixtures, and packaging.

Halogen bulbs Household halogen bulbs are accepted when intact, cool, and removed from the fixture.

Materials not accepted

Not Accepted in the Standard Bulb Bag

Do not place any of the items below in your Batteries & Bulbs canvas bag.

Broken, cracked, or shattered bulbsNot accepted

Follow your local disposal or household hazardous waste guidance, especially for broken CFLs.

Fluorescent tubes in the canvas bagAdd-on only

Tubes up to 4 feet require the $4-per-tube fluorescent tube add-on.

Fluorescent tubes longer than 4 feetNot accepted

The ReCollective’s fluorescent tube add-on is limited to tubes 4 feet or shorter.

Light fixtures, lamps, and ballastsNot accepted

Remove accepted bulbs from the fixture before collection.

Monthly pickup member guide

How to Set Light Bulbs Out

Inspect each bulbOnly include intact bulbs without cracks, chips, or broken glass.

Remove bulbs from fixturesDo not include lamps, fixtures, packaging, or attached electrical components.

Use the labeled canvas bagPlace accepted bulbs carefully in your Batteries & Bulbs bag.

Set out during a bulb monthPlace the canvas bag inside your black waterproof bag with your other scheduled materials.

The ReCollective Batteries and Bulbs canvas collection bag with light bulbs

Almost Anything Mailback

Only intact LED bulbs are accepted in the Almost Anything Mailback bag.

Not accepted by mail: CFL, incandescent, halogen, fluorescent tube, broken, or cracked bulbs.

Review the Almost Anything Mailback guide before packing your bag.

Household light bulbs collected for responsible recycling

What happens next

How ReCollective Recycles Light Bulbs

The ReCollective consolidates accepted household bulbs for responsible downstream recycling.

Collected from members

Intact bulbs are picked up during scheduled light bulb collection months.

Checked and consolidated

Our team separates accepted bulbs and keeps broken or ineligible materials out of the program.

Sent for specialized processing

Bulbs are routed to facilities that recover usable glass and metals and properly manage mercury-containing materials.

Local recycling guidance

Can Light Bulbs Go in Curbside Recycling?

No. Keep all light bulbs out of municipal curbside recycling carts. Glass bulbs can break and some bulb types require specialized handling.

Household Light Bulbs: Never Curbside

The table below applies to household light bulbs placed in municipal recycling carts.

Municipality	Accepted Curbside?
Raleigh	No
Durham	No
Cary	No
Chapel Hill	No
Carrboro	No
Hillsborough	No

Common questions

Light Bulb Recycling FAQs

Which months does The ReCollective collect light bulbs?

Household light bulbs are collected in March, June, September, and December.

Which household light bulbs are accepted?

Intact incandescent, CFL, LED, and halogen household bulbs are accepted during scheduled bulb collection months.

How do I recycle fluorescent tubes?

Fluorescent tubes up to 4 feet are available as a $4-per-tube add-on. Order the add-on through the Shop in your Member Dashboard and place each intact tube beside the black waterproof bag for pickup. Do not put fluorescent tubes inside the canvas or black bag.

Can I include light bulbs in the Almost Anything Mailback Bag?

Only intact LED bulbs are accepted by mail. CFL, incandescent, halogen, fluorescent tube, broken, and cracked bulbs may not be mailed.

What should I do with a broken CFL bulb?

Do not place it in a ReCollective bag. Follow your city or county household hazardous waste guidance for safe cleanup and disposal.

Where does The ReCollective send collected light bulbs?

Accepted household bulbs and fluorescent tube add-ons are consolidated and sent to Batteries Plus for responsible downstream recycling.

Recycle more at home

Recycle More with The ReCollective

Doorstep members can recycle accepted light bulbs during scheduled months along with plastic film, crinkly packaging, textiles, styrofoam, rotating ReCo Picks, and other hard-to-recycle materials.

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