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Can I recycle ... light bulbs?

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In Los Angeles, light bulbs cannot be placed in the recycling bin. Incandescent bulbs can be thrown in the black trash bin, but fluorescent, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are considered household hazardous waste and must be taken to a Solvents, Automotive, Flammables and Electronics, or SAFE, center for disposal because they may contain mercury or other hazardous materials. Home Depot also has a take-back program for used CFLs.

Because policies and recommendations vary from city to city, each week we ask a sampling of officials from various municipalities to weigh in. Can I recycle light bulbs in ...

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Arcadia: No. All bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste.
Culver City: No. All bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste.
Glendale: No. All bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste.
Long Beach: No. Incandescents can go in trash; all other bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste.
Los Angeles: No. Incandescents can go in trash; all other bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste.
Riverside: No. Incandescents can go in trash; all other bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste.
Santa Monica: No. All bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste.
Torrance: No. Incandescents can go in trash; all other bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste.

-- Susan Carpenter

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