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Some states may require households to recycle their mercury-containing light bulbs after they burn out. In addition, EPA strongly encourages the recycling of all CFLs and other fluorescent light bulbs. CFLs or other fluorescent light bulbs that are discarded in the trash will break and some mercury will be released into the environment. Recycling these light bulbs will reduce the chance that mercury ends up in the environment. Household hazardous waste collections usually accept these light bulbs. For information about state-specific requirements, please contact your state or local environmental regulatory agency. Find out what household hazardous waste collection and recycling programs are available in your area by visiting

If your state or local environmental regulatory agency offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the fluorescent light bulb in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in the trash. If your waste agency incinerates its garbage, you should search a wider geographic area for proper disposal options. Never send a fluorescent light bulb or any other mercury-containing product to an incinerator.

Source: www.EPA.gov