Where to recycle fluorescent lights in San Mateo County

Because of the mercury, they should not be disposed of in the trash.

Not only is it a health hazard, but it is also illegal to dispose of them in the trash according to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and could result in fines.

“Fluorescent lights contain mercury, a toxic metal,” Apollonia Helm, program supervisor at San Mateo County’s Environmental Health Services, said.

“Careful handling to prevent the release of mercury from lights includes storing them in a safe place where they cannot be broken and out of reach of children,” Helm said.

For those in the north side of the county, Daly City’s Home Depot in the Westlake Shopping Center accepts compact fluorescent lamps in smaller quantities, but not in tube form. In East Palo Alto and San Mateo, The Home Depots there also accept CFLs in limited quantities.

Likewise, the Lowe’s location in San Bruno also accepts small quantities of fluorescent lights.

Residents living in single-family homes in Daly City, Colma, Portola Valley and Woodside are also able to dispose of CFL bulbs by placing them in a zip-close bag above their trash cans on garbage day. However, this method does not for larger tubes.

For those seeking to dispose of larger quantities, it is recommended they call the San Carlos Shoreway Environmental Center at (650) 802-8355. Recology of the Coast customers can call the recycling center at (650) 355-9000. Call ahead for hours of operation. Residents may also call the San Mateo County Household Hazardous Waste Program at (650) 372-6200 to dispose of up to 10 fluorescent lights.

Unlike other locations, fluorescent tubes are accepted by Recology.

In South San Francisco, the Blue Lines Transfer Inc. location also allows residents to drop off their used fluorescent lights and tubes, however, there is a fee.

All incoming loads are subject to a $38 minimum charge, plus special handling fees as appropriate, Frida Pensamiento, the sustainability specialist at Blue Line Transfer Inc., said.

Pensamiento added that CFL bulbs cost an additional $5 per bulb with a customer daily limit of 40 bulbs.

The county also accepts drop-offs for businesses in San Mateo every first and third Wednesday via its website, if an inventory of what is being dropped off is made at smchealth.org/post/request-vsqg-appointment.

Broken bulbs also require specific guidelines due to the possible toxicity of the fragments and should be dealt with immediately as a precaution.