Redirect Fluorescent Lamps and Tubes to CalRecycle Home Page (2024)

FAQs

Does Lowes or Home Depot recycle fluorescent tubes? ›

The biggest market for CFL recycling is retailers (like Home Depot and Lowe's), which accept them for free but only from consumers. CFLs are more widely purchased by consumers in these retail stores, whereas fluorescent tubes are more often used in offices. It's also easier to ship CFLs for recycling than the tubes.

Replacing fluorescent lights with LED is extremely energy efficient, requiring a much lower wattage and operating at a maximum of 65% output whilst still providing excellent light levels (the output level changes depending on occupancy and daylight).

In general, you can replace fluorescent tubes with LEDs anywhere, as long as you pay attention to the right replacement. Because from the external appearance, the two light sources are very similar. You can find mechanically suitable LED tube for all types of fluorescent tubes.

Recycle at Lowe's

Lowe's accepts rechargeable batteries and CFLs at any of their store locations for free recycling. Find the nearest store.

Contact your local waste collection agency

Visit search.Earth911.com to find collection schedules in your area or drop-off locations if curbside collections are not available. Note that waste collection agencies: Provide services that are usually free, though some may charge a small fee.

This depends on the bulbs. Some LED bulbs may require you to remove the ballasts. However, a high-quality plug and play LED tube - like Warehouse Lighting's Triple-Fit 4' T8 LED – can be used in direct wire fixtures as well as traditional fluorescent fixtures with ballasts.

Usually. Almost all lighting fixtures can house LED bulbs. To confirm that LED bulbs can be housed in a fluorescent lighting fixture, look for LED bulbs that are “ballast compatible,” this means that they can work with the ballasts that are already installed in your current lighting fixture.

T8 = 1-inch diameter. T12 = 1-1/2-inch diameter.

You do not need a ballast for LED lights, but instead a driver. This is called a Type C application, with a tube and driver that work together. Verde often uses this approach to replace T12 magnetic ballasts, as well as older T8 systems with aging electronic ballasts.

LEDs also offer better dimming performance than fluorescent lamps. They have faster ramp-up to full brightness and are more energy-efficient at low dimming levels. In addition, LEDs do not contain mercury, making them safer for indoor use and at end-of-life.

Can I still buy fluorescent tubes? ›

From September 2023, a variety of fluorescent lamps and halogen capsule lamps will be phased out. As a result of new legislation, this phase-out will mean that these lamps will no longer be manufactured. However, you will still be able to purchase and fit these products while stocks last.

If the light is shimmering or very dim then it is most probably the fluorescent tube (lightbulb) that needs replacing. Both of these things are really easy for most people to replace and generally we ask customers to do this themselves. If you can't do it yourself then a friend or family member may be able to help you.

I thought all on/off switches would control a fluorescent load. No, they don't. Pure electronic switches work well with incandescent lamps and other resistive loads but fluorescent lamp has an “inductor type” ballast in its circuit and ideally needs old-fashioned electromechanical relay.

If you're willing to redo the ceiling, you could get recessed can lights and install LED bulbs, or you could install modern look-alikes: canless LEDs, which are recessed but don't have replaceable bulbs and are therefore much more compact, or round flush-mounted LEDs, which extend about an inch down from the ceiling ...

Lowes accepts compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) for recycling in 1,700 US stores. Their permanent recycling centers offer a free, convenient and easy way for customers to recycle rechargeable batteries, cell phones, CFLs and plastic shopping bags.

Unfortunately, stores with CFL (compact fluorescent lighting) recycling centers like Home Depot, Lowes, Ikea, and Walmart typically do not accept 4ft or 8ft fluorescent tubes. So, using a simple mail-back recycling kit is a good alternative.

Additionally, many home improvement, hardware, and lighting retailers may accept light bulbs for recycling. Lowes, Home Depot, and IKEA all usually have bins to take CFL bulbs for recycling. They may take LED bulbs, but each store has their own regulations.

Keep in mind Lowe's stores offer a recycling center (usually near the entrance) that accepts plastic bags, CFL bulbs, rechargeable batteries, and cellphones. Lowe's also accepts plastic planter pots and cases in the garden center for recycling.