Fluorescent Bulbs and Tubes
Fluorescent lights come in two different forms; Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) that fit into normal household lamps and light fixtures, and tubes that are used in commercial settings, and sometimes in household basements, closets and garages. Linear fluorescent tubes vary in length from 2' - 12'. They are also sometimes non-linear, in circular or U-shapes. CFLs in particular have been promoted for their energy efficiency - they last 10 times longer, and use 75% less electricity than traditional incandescent light bulbs. The problem is that they contain mercury - an acute neurotoxin - that can leach from landfills into water.
Please do not dispose of CFLs or fluorescent tubes in your household trash or recycling bins. Instead, use one of the recycling options listed at the bottom of the page.
Fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury and should be handled carefully.
HID Bulbs and Lamps
HID stands for "high intensity discharge." These very bright lights are mostly used in industrial applications, though they are sometimes also used in floodlights and in car headlamps. Like fluorescent bulbs and CFLs, they often contain mercury and/or small amounts of radioactive material. These are hazardous in landfills, so please do not dispose of HID bulbs in your household trash or recycling bins. Instead, use one of the recycling options listed at the bottom of the page.
HID bulbs can contain both mercury and radioactive materials.
LED Bulbs and Tubes
LED stands for "light emitting diode." A LED bulb uses a computer chip to direct light of one color in a single direction. They come in many shapes and sizes, including tubes (which are really just multiple small LED bulbs arranged in a long case). From an environmental standpoint, LED bulbs are very efficient and durable, and their components are relatively safe compared to CFLs or fluorescent tubes.
LEDs contain components that are recyclable, including the computer chip and circuitry.
Please take a look at the recycling options listed at the bottom of the page, and note that Kane County Recycling Centers will accept LED light strings (e.g. Christmas or other decorative light strings) but cannot take loose bulbs or tubes.
The electronic components of LED bulbs are recyclable.
Incandescent and Halogen Bulbs
These two types of bulbs are very similar - the bulb part of a halogen lamp is filled with a halogen gas and the filament is made of tungsten metal, giving it different chemistry and a longer life compared to regular incandescents. Halogen bulbs are often used in outdoor lighting. Both halogen and regular incandescent bulbs are very energy-inefficient compared to LEDs and CFLs, so many households are phasing them out of use. While these bulbs cannot be recycled,
they do not contain toxic materials and
should be disposed of in household trash, preferably inside a container to prevent breakage. Please do not put them in your recycling bin. Note that Kane County Recycling Centers will accept incandescent light strings (e.g. Christmas or other decorative light strings) but cannot take loose bulbs.
Incandescent lights come in many sizes, shapes and colors. The bottom left image is a halogen bulb.
Light Bulb Drop-offs (see notes about bulb types accepted - green on map)
Check out our new interactive map of bulb and battery recycling drop-offs in and near Kane County! Click on the "four corners" icon at the top right of the header bar to open the map in a new browser tab.
Geneva - Ace Hardware
(617 W. State St., Geneva, 630-208-6600)
Kane County's collection partner, Ace Hardware in Geneva, accepts fluorescent tubes, CFLs, HIDs and LED bulbs at no cost to Kane County residents. The program is for household bulbs, not for business use. The County funds safe disposal and recycling of the bulbs and tubes collected through a company called Fluorecycle.
*Please bring all bulbs and tubes loose. Do not repackage, and do not tape or otherwise bind fluorescent tubes together. Doing so increases the likelihood of the tubes being broken during processing. Do not bring incandescent or halogen bulbs.*
Kane Co. Household Hazardous Waste Home Collection Program will pick up fluorescent tubes, ballasts from fluorescent tubes (just the ballast; not the whole fixture), CFLs, HIDs and LED bulbs at no fee to Kane County residents in eligible areas.
See the program page for information about area eligibility, other accepted materials and scheduling.
Lowe's - St. Charles (955 S Randall Rd. 630-338-4000) Drop off bin for CFLs and will take small quantities of fluorescent tubes with purchase of new lighting.
Elgin Recycling (660 Schiller St., Elgin, IL 60123 and 161 Center Dr., Gilberts, IL 60136) accepts fluorescent lighting ballasts; no bulbs or tubes.
Batteries + Bulbs - Elgin (352 S. Randall Rd. 847-289-8990) recycles fluorescent tubes, CFLs, HIDs and LED bulbs. There is a per item fee; call for details.
Batteries + Bulbs - Geneva (1492-C S. Randall Rd. 630-313-5700)
recycles fluorescent tubes, CFLs, HIDs and LED bulbs. There is a per item fee; call for details.
Batteries + Bulbs - Montgomery (1072 Ogden Ave., 630-381-0700) recycles fluorescent tubes, CFLs, HIDs and LED bulbs. There is a per item fee; call for details.
Business Quantities of Fluorescent Lighting
The drop-off and home pick-up programs described above are intended for use by residents, not businesses. In 1997 fluorescent lamps were designated by law as universal waste, a category of hazardous wastes, because of their mercury content, thereby banning them from landfill disposal, and businesses must contract for their proper disposal.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) established
a list of companies providing commercial services. Similarly, the Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers
has a map of providers. Local options include the following:
Fluorecycle, Inglewood, IL, 815-363-4411
Light Bulb Mail-in Programs
These programs generally work by selling postage paid boxes that can be mailed back to recycle light bulbs of various size and type.
TerraCycle Regulated Waste has boxes in a number of configurations to take various bulb types, including fluorescent tubes, CFLs, HIDs and LEDs. Costs start at $36. https://tcrwusa.com/collections/easypak
Lamp Master has boxes in a number of configurations to take various bulb types, including fluorescent tubes, CFLs, HIDs and LEDs. Costs start at $30. https://lampmaster.com/
