Do not send any kind of lamps through campus mail. Because mercury is highly toxic, all lamps must be segregated, handled carefully and recycled by an approved University vendor. It is illegal to put fluorescent tubes or bulbs/compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in recycling or waste containers.

Do not remove overhead fluorescent lighting tubes yourself.

How to recycle spent lighting, lamps & bulbs

Recycling fluorescent lamps & other mercury-containing lamps
  • Black lights
    lightbulbs and lamps containing mercury
  • Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
  • Fluorescent tubes (FLT)
  • Germicidal bulbs
  • High-intensity discharge lamps (HID)
  • High output bulbs
  • High pressure sodium lamps
  • Mercury vapor lamps
  • Metal halide lamps
  • Neon lamps

If lamps need to be recycled from a Capital Project, fill out the request form below.

Request a lamp box pickup or drop off (NetID required)

For all other campus groups, staff are not responsible for removing and transporting fluorescent lamps. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury and are hazardous if broken (pdf). If you need to replace a fluorescent lamp, submit a request through the form below to have your lamps removed from lighting fixtures and picked up.

Request lighting tube removal in FS-WORKS (NetID required)

Recycling non-mercury containing lamps & bulbs
  • Incandescent
    non-mercury containing lamps and lightbulbs
  • LED
  • Halogen
  • Xenon

If lamps need to be recycled from a Capital Project, fill out the request form below.

Request a lamp box pickup or drop off (NetID required)

All other campus groups can recycle lamps and light bulbs by packaging lamps in a box, sealing the box and labeling it with “lamps for recycling.” Various types may be combined.

Step 1: Package the lamps

Place lamps safely in a box and attach this label (pdf). Add the current date and label it “Lamps for Recycling”, then seal the box with packing tape. Various lamps/bulbs can be inside a box.

Step 2: Choose a disposal option

Once packaged, there are two options for disposal:

Option 1: Request pickup by UW Facilities

Request a pickup in FS-WORKS (NetID required)

Option 2: Drop-off at UW Recycling

Deliver the boxed lamps to the UW Recycling office at the Publications Services Building, third floor during office staff hours. Please call 206-685-2811 at least 30 minutes ahead of time and call again when you arrive.

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