Fluorescent Bulbs and Tubes Require Special Disposal Do not put them in the garbage. Fluorescent tubes contain elemental mercury mixed with powder. Crushing tubes creates mercury vapor that is difficult to contain. Keeping lamps intact prevents mercury exposure. Fluorescent tubes are regulated as a federal and State of Washington universal waste. Universal wastes must ultimately go to a recycler or permitted treatment, storage, or disposal facility. Recyclers separate the tubes into their component materials - glass, metal, phosphor powder and mercury - so that these materials can be recycled or reused. Fluorescent bulbs and tubes are accepted at local hazardous waste facilities. King County - Click Here Snohomish County - TBA Skagit County Hazardous Waste - 360 424-9532 Kitsap County - Click Here Fluorescent Bulb Recyclers EcoLights Northwest, Seattle, WA - 206 343-1247 Grainger, Seattle, WA - 206 767-4500 Keep It Clean Recycling & Equipment, Redmond, WA - 425 868-3535 Environmental Technical Services, Tukwila, WA - 206 433-7131, 800 334-2387 Philip Services Corp., Kent, WA - 800 228-7872 Safety-Kleen (North), Lynnwood, WA - 425 775-7030 (South), Auburn, WA - 800 669-5948 Local Retailers Recycling Fluorescent Bulbs January 18 - July 18, 2005 The Puget Sound Lamp Recycling Coalition is sponsoring a Fluorescent Light Bulb Recycling event from January 18 to July 18, 2005. Visit the Northwest Product Stewardship Council Web site - www.productstewardship.net/ for more information. Mercury and Product Stewardship - Here's a Bright Idea! From January 18 - July 18, 2005, residents can bring their spent fluorescent light bulbs, including compact fluorescent bulbs and straight tubes, to any of 67 participating retail locations in King, Kitsap, Snohomish and Thurston Counties for recycling. There may be a small fee for the recycling service. In return, residents get four coupons for 50 cents off the purchase price of new compact fluorescent light bulbs. Why Recycle? Using fluorescent lights saves money and reduces the amount of energy that needs to be produced by power plants. However, they contain small amounts of mercury, so they need to be recycled properly. Fluorescent lights are safe to use in your home, and mercury is not released when in use. No products that contain mercury should be put in the garbage. Please recycle these products properly. Recycling Fees Most retailers charge a small fee to cover the cost of recycling the fluorescent light bulbs (including compact fluorescent light bulbs and straight tubes). List of retailers accepting fluorescent light bulbs through July 18, 2005 - www.productstewardship.net/productsMercuryFluorescent.html#locations Print This Page | Close Window