Electronics & batteries

Can light bulbs go in glass recycling?

Usually no. Lamps and bulbs should follow the lamp/electrical collection route for their technology, not bottle-and-jar glass recycling.

Complete answer

The answer

Fluorescent lamps can contain mercury and need specialist handling. LEDs are electronic products. Incandescent and halogen lamps can also be excluded from container-glass streams because the glass composition and construction differ.

Keep broken lamps contained safely and use the local collection guidance for the specific lamp type.

What to do

  • Identify the lamp type.
  • Keep it out of bottle-and-jar recycling.
  • Use a lamp, e-waste or hazardous-waste route as required.

Related WasteSpot resources

These links are optional follow-up resources. The complete answer is provided above.

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