Because CFLs contain very small amounts of mercury, burned-out CFLs must be recycled and removed from the normal waste stream. Mercury is a health hazard and a Washington state rule prohibits mercury-containing items from being disposed of with household garbage (RCW 70.275). Mercury-containing lights can be recycled free-of-charge at a number of sites. The state Department of Ecology maintains a database of recycling sites (click here). For your search, select "Drop off," then "Residential," then "Snohomish," then "household hazardous waste," and then "fluorescent lights" to find recycling sites in the area.
You can recycle CFL bulbs (no fluorescent tubes) at:
Bartell Drugs
All Bartell Drugs in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties accept CFLs (no tubes) for free disposal. There are 14 Bartell Drugs in Snohomish County.
Home Depot Stores
Home Depot stores offer free recycling of burned-out CFL bulbs (no tubes). Customers can bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs to the Returns Desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company that will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance. For more information about this program, visit the Home Depot website at ecooptions.homedepot.com/healthy-home/recycling.
Recycling Fluorescent Tubes & CFL Bulbs
Both can be taken to Snohomish County Solid Waste Facilities
Households may bring their fluorescent tubes and bulbs to the County’s Hazardous Waste Drop-off Station for FREE recycling services (up to 10 tubes or bulbs) at 3434 McDougall Avenue, Everett – Wednesday through Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call for additional information: 425-388-6050.
Businesses can call the Drop-off Station for fees and other disposal options.
Recycling/Transfer Stations:
- Airport Road – 10700 Minuteman Drive, Everett
- North County – 19600 63rd Avenue NE, Arlington
- Southwest – 21311 - 61st PL W – Mountlake Terrace
Drop Box Locations also available at:
- Granite Falls – 7526 Menzel Lake Road
- Dubuque Road (Lake Roesiger) – 19619 Dubuque Road-Snohomish
- Sultan – 33014 Cascade View Drive
CFL and Fluorescent Tube Disposal is also available on Camano Island for Island County residents at 75 E. Camano Hill Road operating daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 360-387-9696.
For more detailed information regarding CFL disposal, call the Snohomish County Solid Waste Division at 425-388-3425.
Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1