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Fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs
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In Calgary, put this in the
Special handling
These contain mercury — take them to a household hazardous waste drop-off, not the cart.
Also searched as: fluorescent, cfl, light tube.
Why it can’t go in a cart
Every fluorescent tube and CFL contains a small amount of mercury vapour, released the moment the glass breaks. Recycling depots capture the mercury and recycle the glass and metal — a broken one in your cart just releases it.
Get it right
- Transport bulbs in their original box or wrapped so they don’t break en route.
- If one breaks at home: air out the room 10–15 minutes, then scoop debris with stiff paper into a sealed jar — don’t vacuum.
- Eco Centres take tubes and CFLs free; some hardware stores also run take-back bins.
- When one burns out, replace it with an LED — no mercury, and it’ll outlast several CFLs.
Related items
⚠️ Needles and sharps🗑️ Light bulbs (incandescent and LED)⚠️ Cleaning chemicals⚠️ Paint⚠️ Household batteries⚠️ Propane tanks
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