Hazardous

Contains a small amount of mercury

Handle broken bulbs with care.

Energy-saving bulb

Also called: CFL, energy saving bulb, compact fluorescent, spiral bulb, low energy bulb

Recycling centre

National rules. Choose your council to see its answer.

Your council's answer

The answer can differ by council. Choose your council to see its rules for this item.

How to prepare it

  1. Take to a bulb recycling point in a shop or the tip
  2. If broken, air the room and sweep up with card, not a vacuum

National rules

The answer isn't the same in every UK nation. Choose your council to see the one that applies to you.

England and Scotland

Recycling centre

Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre.

LED and energy-saving bulbs are electrical waste; many shops that sell bulbs have collection boxes.

Also: Drop-off point

Wales

Recycling centre

Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre.

LED and energy-saving bulbs are electrical waste for the tip or a shop collection box; old filament bulbs go in general waste.

Also: Drop-off point

Wales-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source

Northern Ireland

Recycling centre

Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre.

Energy-saving and LED bulbs contain hazardous parts, so take them to a recycling centre, not the bin.

Also: Drop-off point

Northern Ireland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source

How to recycle it

National schemes anyone in the UK can use.

National scheme

Shop take-back of small electricals

Free · Return in store

Big electrical shops must take small electricals under 25cm free even if you buy nothing, and any shop selling electricals must take back your old item when you buy a similar new one.

  1. Shops with an electrical sales area over 400 square metres must take items under 25cm on the longest side free, even if you buy nothing
  2. Any other shop selling that type of electrical item must take back an old one of the same type or function when you buy a new one; you have at least 28 days to return it
  3. Remove loose batteries and tape the ends before handing the item in

Source: gov.uk, checked 10 Oct 2026.

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