As of January 1, 2015, Washington State residents will be able to recycle mercury-containing lights at no charge, through the LightRecycle Washington Program. You can drop lights off at authorized Collection Sites throughout Washington State.
Categories of acceptable lights include fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and high intensity discharge lights (HIDs). Also accepted are accidentally broken lights, in sealed containers, such as a plastic bag. Follow these safety procedures for broken fluorescent lights.
Why Recycle?
Washington State law now requires that all mercury-containing lights be recycled. All fluorescent and High Intensity Discharge lights contain mercury – a potent neurotoxin.
Although a single fluorescent light contains a very small amount of mercury, millions of these lights are sold every year in Washington State. Taken together, the mercury from fluorescent lights and HIDs has potential to harm human health and the environment if not properly recycled.
FAQs: https://www.lightrecycle.org/resources/faqs/
