Some lightbulbs need to be recycled, some should be recycled, and others are difficult to recycle. How to keep them straight? This guide should help!

All Lightbulbs

The easiest thing to do is take all your spent lightbulbs to Batteries+. They accept all kinds of lightbulbs, including plenty we'd never even heard of.

That being said, we're not sure whether they actually recycle the incandescent and halogen bulbs since the small amount of glass and metal in those items is difficult to recover. They may just end up in the trash, but we think taking them here gives them their best chance at being recycled.

Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs)

These "curly" lightbulbs contain mercury, so it is very important not to put them in the landfill. Drop them off in a bin near the entrance at home improvement stores or take them to Household Hazardous Waste.

• Household Hazardous Waste facility
• Lowes
• Home Depot 

Fluorescent Tubes

These bulbs also contain mercury and must be disposed of properly.

• Household Hazardous Waste facility

LED, Halogen, and Incandescent Bulbs

Some communities accept LED bulbs for recycling, but Shawnee County permits their disposal in the landfill. It is our understanding that the Household Hazardous Waste facility throws away LED or incandescent bulbs since they are not considered hazardous. You can recycle or responsibly dispose of these bulbs at:

• Batteries+