Can LED Lights Be Recycled? How To Dispose Of Your Bulbs

Light bulbs are just about everywhere these days. As it turns out though, the past few decades have seen a lot happen in the lighting technology space, most notably the increased prevalence of LED bulbs, which have effectively become the standard in most homes, businesses, and more. LED bulbs may have their downsides, but their benefits over incandescent bulbs are hard to ignore. Not only are they impressively long-lasting and energy efficient, but once they fail, you don't have to worry about wasting the remaining materials.

As it turns out, LED light bulbs are almost entirely recyclable — at least 95%. Materials like glass, metal, and plastic can be reused in some fashion once a bulb is no longer usable. Unfortunately, these bulbs being able to reach their fullest recyclable potential is a bit of a daunting task. Separating all of the materials within is a costly endeavor, so there's still work to be done in this regard. Still, with the bulk of an LED bulb's makeup being recyclable, and the fact that these bulbs contain trace amounts of heavy metals, which present hazards to the environment, there's reason enough to recycle them.

So, to be as responsible as possible with your run-down LED bulbs, what should you do with them? Here's how to dispose of them properly.

Getting rid of non-working LED bulbs isn't too difficult, and there are plenty of methods of doing so. Instead of tossing them in a trash can or recycling bin, it's a good idea to take them to a designated disposal center. Conveniently, hardware chains like Lowe's, and IKEA have numerous locations that accept LED bulbs for disposal. Of course, before taking them to your local store, it's best to check in first via phone or the Internet to ensure that your old bulbs will actually be accepted there. You should also know that at some disposal locations, such as Batteries Plus, for example, you may have to pay a fee for such services.

Then again, if you don't want to drive out and pay to have your LEDs disposed of, you have other options to consider. Some municipal safety departments offer recycling services for LED bulbs, though you'd have to look into where to go and which days and times they accept drop-offs. There's also the mail-in option that can be done through the likes of Republic Services and Veolia. They offer kits that can be ordered and filled with LED bulbs, which you then send back to them for disposal. Of course, this service isn't free, so be aware that you'll have to pay to have your bulbs taken away.

LED bulbs are prime for recycling, hence why many offer disposal services for them. While they may not be as easy to recycle, other bulbs can be disposed of more consciously than merely sending them away with your garbage. 

Responsible light bulb disposal doesn't begin and end with the LED variety. Other types like the now-banned in America incandescent and CFL bulbs can be tossed out safely in more ways than one. For starters, the website for the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends checking out Earth911 for guidance. The website features a recycling search, allowing you to see where in your area is accepting of specific materials, equipment, and more. Simply specify what you're looking to recycle — in this case light bulbs — and in which zip code you want to do so, and it should point you in the right direction.

Much like with LED bulbs, if you can't make the trip to drop off your old light bulbs, or you don't have a disposal location nearby, you're not out of luck. Depending on the brand you've purchased from, you could get ahold of a pre-labeled recycling kit. Toss as many old bulbs into it as you can, pack it up, and ship it off to the specified address, where they'll be safely recycled. Before doing anything, it's best to check in with your local laws and regulations regarding light bulb disposal. Some areas have different requirements and protocols in this regard, so doing some research into the dos and don'ts of light bulb disposal is a smart move.

Different types of LED bulbs can save you money, last you quite some time, and reduce your electric bill, but they don't last forever. Once they go out, they should be recycled, and that starts with proper disposal.