If you are curious about how to properly dispose of your lightbulbs after you are done with them, you will need to know some more information about the type of bulb. There are four common types of lightbulbs used in most households: fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, and LED. Depending on the type of bulb you have and the rules of your local recycling center in New Jersey, you may be able to recycle them. Recycling lightbulbs that can be repurposed often helps prevent dangerous toxins from seeping into the groundwater near landfills. Here is a list of the types of lightbulbs and whether or not they are eligible for recycling.
These popular bulbs are great for saving energy in your home, which makes them a great replacement for any of the older bulbs in your home. However, they contain the hazardous element of mercury, which must be disposed of properly. If you throw fluorescent bulbs in the garbage, they will release toxic chemicals into landfills and endanger our planet. Instead, you will want to recycle these bulbs so they can be repurposed and processed correctly.
This bulb can actually be thrown in the garbage. Because incandescent bulbs do not contain any toxic chemicals, they do not pose any danger to the landfills. Before you throw these lightbulbs away, you should wrap in them in dirty, old towels or other garbage to keep them from breaking. Once they are broken, they can cause accidental injury to anyone who comes in contact with them.
These bulbs are also energy efficient, which makes them a wildly popular option for many homeowners looking to curb their energy bills. Although they do not contain mercury, they actually contain many other hazardous substances that will require special disposal. When they end up in the landfill, they emit arsenic and lead into the air and ground, which can danger many. You will want to contact your local recycling center in New Jersey to see if they will accept LEDs.
These bulbs contain halogen gas, which makes them difficult for recycling. Although many people just simply throw these types of bulbs in the trash, you will want to first check with your recycling center to see if they will accept halogen bulbs. This will differ depending on their ability to repurpose these bulbs. No matter how you dispose of it, you want to be sure to wrap it to prevent any breaking.
These are the four most common types of lightbulbs and information about how to properly dispose of them. Because this typically varies from state-to-state, you will want to check with your local recycling center in New Jersey to be sure about their recycling policies. Contact us to hear about our recycling efforts today.
