Everything you need to know about recycling incandescent lights
Recycling Incandescent Light Bulbs includes:
Incandescent light globes
Incandescent light bulbs
Traditional light bulbs
Filament light bulbs
Old-style bulbs
Conventional bulbs
Edison bulbs
Tungsten filament bulbs
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Learn more about incandescent light bulb disposal
How to recycle incandescent lights
Incandescent lights and halogens are an older style of globe that are being phased out by the Australia Government due to their energy inefficiency. Replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient lights can reduce energy use and provide cost savings for your business or workplace.
- Some recyclers may accept incandescent light bulbs for recycling or disposal. Use the directory on this page to see if there is a recycler near you. Always call the recycler in advance to check if they will accept the type of light you want to recycle.
- If you cannot find a recycler, incandescent bulbs and globes can be safely disposed of in general waste bins. Wrap the bulb in paper towel or tissue and put it inside a bag before putting it in the bin so it can be safely handled.
Why recycle?
Incandescent light bulbs produce light as a by-product of heat, making them an inefficient lighting device. The Australia Government introduced a phase-out of incandescent light bulbs in 2009.
Switching to more efficient lights, such as LEDs and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), can reduce energy use significantly. CFLs can use about 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can save an average user up to $15 per light bulb per year.
When replacing incandescent light bulbs, they should not be placed in glass or comingled recycling bins, as the bulbs are made from a heatproof glass that will contaminate the recycling. Instead, they should be safely disposed of in your garbage bin. Wrap the bulb in paper towel or tissue and put it inside a bag before putting it in the bin so they are safe to handle.
What happens to them?
Incandescent bulbs do not contain mercury like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Therefore, they can be safely disposed of in garbage bins (after wrapping them in paper towel) where they will be sent to landfill.
Incandescent globes and halogen light globes are made from low-value materials which makes recycling them difficult.?Some recyclers may accept incandescent globes, however, they are less commonly accepted than lights such as fluorescent lights.
Recycling other lights
Fluorescent tubes and lights, CFLs (compact fluoros), HIDs (high-intensity discharge lights) and metal halides can be recycled through commercial recyclers. They should not be put in recycling or garbage bin because they contain toxic substances that are hazardous to the environment.
Fluorescent lights
Fluorescent light globes are the largest source of mercury contamination in municipal landfills. If recycled, however, mercury and other components can be safely recovered and reused to make valuable products.
LEDs
LED lights are energy-efficient and free from hazardous materials. They can have an even lower environmental footprint if recycled.
Halogen lamps
Halogen lamps produce light as by product of heat and are inefficient lighting devices particularly for illuminating large spaces. Halogens are being partially phased out by the Australian Government and should be replaced with more efficient LED or compact fluorescent lamps.
HID lamps
High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps contain a small amount of toxic mercury. If disposed of in landfill this mercury may cause environmental contamination. Instead HID lamps should be recycled to recover mercury and other valuable resources for use in new products.
Energy-efficient lights
In Australia, lighting accounts for around 10% of the average household electricity budget. The popular uptake of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is largely responsible for the reduction of lighting costs in recent years.
LEDs are better value and can be used in the majority of existing fittings. LEDs use about 75% less energy than halogen light bulbs and last 5 to 10 times longer, greatly reducing replacement costs and the number of light bulbs ending up in landfill.
CFLs (compact fluoros) are another type of energy-efficient light. They can use about 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can save an average user up to $15 per light bulb per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are light globes recyclable?
Light globes cannot be recycled via your household recycling bin. If you put a light globe in your recycling bin at home, it will not be recycled and it could damage the other materials in your recycling bin, potentially preventing them from being recycled.
Some types of light globes can be recycled but they must be dropped off at recycling and safe disposal locations. Use the information on this page to find a recycling location for light globes near you.
How to recycle light globes
The method for disposing of light globes in Australia depends on the type of globe.
Incandescent and halogen globes:
•Halogen and incandescent lights have a heating filament enclosed in glass, usually in a traditional light globe shape.
•They are generally safe to dispose of in your regular garbage bin. For safety, wrap the globes in paper or tissue and put them inside a bag before putting them in the bin.
•While these globes can be recycled, the process is often not cost-effective, so many recycling programs or facilities do not accept them.
•Both halogen and incandescent globes are being phased out in many countries due to their lower energy efficiency compared to newer LED and CFL options. They are often not accepted in recycling programs, but it is safe to put them in your garbage bin (after wrapping them in paper towel or tissue).
Fluorescent (CFL) and LED globes:
•Fluorescent lights come in different shapes and sizes. There are long fluorescent tubes and smaller, spiral-shaped bulbs designed to fit standard light fixtures.
They contain hazardous materials and should be dropped off for recycling or safe disposal. Do not put these lights in your recycling or garbage bins.
•Use the directory on this page to find a recycler near you.
