I am upgrading my light bulbs with new ones How do i get rid of the old ones?

Question

I am replacing my old light bulbs with new compact floresents. How do i get rid of the old ones? dumping em in the trash might be a problem with state law i don't know.

Answer 1

Most muncipal waste centers have no problem with old lightbulbs. The only time I would be cautious is if any of the bulbs contain Mercury (marked on all packages by Hg) You'll have to send them to a special recycling center where they collect things like old car batteries, used computers and other stuff.You may also find a disposal service specifically for stuff that contains Mercury.
But if your old bulbs still work, don't throw them away! Goodwill doesn't accept used bulbs but if there is an MCC (Mennonite Central Committee)
thrift shop in your area, you can give your bulbs to them.

Safe Mercury Disposal:
http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/chemwaste/mercury.htm

The MCC
http://www.mcc.org/

Answer 2

Plain household lightbulbs?! If there's a state where it's illegal to dispose of lightbulbs in the trash, it's news to me. And it would be surprising.

Lightbulbs are glass with some metal for the base and filament and some sort of inert gas for a filler (or perhaps a vacuum, but probably an inert gas).

Glass isn't toxic and neither is an inert gas. The only thing that might be toxic would be if the filament has some heavy metal in it (I don't thinnk it does) or if the white coating inside the bulb is made of something toxic. But if that were the case, you'd think the boxes would have warnings on them.

If there is no warning on the boxes about disposal - put 'em in the trash along with everything else you put in the trash.

Answer 3

you surely could specify which area of the worldwide you come from ie usa or united kingdom? while you're from the united kingdom right here is what you do. Dimmers are available sizes watching the burden (volume of Watts). If uncertain get suggestion in the previous you purchase. additionally in case you purely have one 60W bulb, your dimmer won't function top.. in case you purchase a metallic plate it is going to could be earthed. this is the yellow/eco-friendly cord(s) is going into the screw placed on the canopy. in the previous you do something, be certain the potential is switched off on the shopper Unit. in case you don't be attentive to the thank you to do this then it rather is the time to call in an electrician or somebody who's efficacious adequate to do the interest for you. I additionally advise in the previous undoing any wires you the two take a percentof the winning wiring or make a drawing of precisely the way it rather is under pressure. The pink cord could bypass to the user-friendly (~), the black cord (could have a pink sleeve on it) is going to the L1 connection. whether it rather is extra complicated than that ie 2 way switching (which you haven't any longer instructed us approximately), then you rather will could cord it up as in the previous. for this reason your choose for a drawing.

Answer 4

I did the same thing. I gave mine away to anyone that went through alot of light bulbs. They make great gifts!

Answer 5

No problem with incandescent bulbs. Throw 'em out.

Answer 6

i think to get rid of the old ones, u can ask someone at home depot or some place like that
or maybe check on ur states website

Answer 7

If you aren't sure about laws, you should wrap them up in old newspapers or something so they don't break. I'm sure you won't get in trouble though, just wrap them up or put them in more bags so if they do break it won't go anywhere.

Answer 8

If they work, donate them to a re-sale shop.
They can be brought to hazardous waste collections too....
Those places take paint and computers....too

Answer 9

throw off the side of the highway or better yet use em as drum sticks