Light bulbs
What items can we take?
Ridwell helps recycle light bulbs that aren't accepted in your curbside recycling program. Check your city's recycling guide for what your city curbside program includes. Here are examples of light bulbs our partner, Clean Earth, can recycle.
LEDs
CFLs
Incandescent
Halogen
Flood light bulbs
LED, fluorescent, halogen, etc.
What isn’t in this category?
Broken light bulbs
For our team members' safety, we can't accept broken light bulbs
Fluorescent light tubes
Light bulbs.
Light bulbs come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, lumens, and types, the most common being LEDs, incandescents, fluorescents, and CFLs.
CFLs contain mercury and so are collected by the state for recycling. But we can take all types to make sure you get rid of stuff the right way.
Why use Ridwell?
It has been estimated that nationwide only about 25% of the 680 million lights discarded each year are recycled. The remainder is disposed of in solid waste landfills and incinerators, posing a threat to human health and the environment.
CFLs (the curly ones) have mercury in them, so they especially need to be disposed of responsibly! We make it easy to make sure your CFLs - and the rest of your household bulbs - are properly recycled. Just put them in your light bulb bag and we'll take care of the rest. We collect your spent light bulbs and our partner separates the metal, glass, and plastic for further materials recycling.
If you have light bulbs that are still good but you don't need anymore, try your local Buy Nothing group for reuse in the community!
Partnering with Clean Earth
Clean Earth is a trusted leader in the environmental and waste industry, managing waste with a focus on safety and compliance while nurturing a culture of sustainability to promote a thriving environment. Your light bulbs are crushed and broken down into their base recycling components such as glass, metal, and plastic. Any hazardous materials, like mercury, are safely removed and properly disposed of.
FAQ
Are some of these items accepted in my city's curbside recycling program?
They may be. It is always best to review your city's recycling guidelines to determine what is included in your city's curbside service.
Join the movement to build a future without waste.
