# Can you put fluorescent tubes and cfl bulbs in a dumpster?

> No. Mercury-containing lamps are universal waste under 40 CFR Part 273. They break in transit and release mercury vapour, so they are handled separately…

Source: https://dumptergod.shop/what-can-go-in/fluorescent-bulbs/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-17

# Can you put fluorescent tubes and cfl bulbs in a dumpster?

Direct answer
**No.** Mercury-containing lamps are universal waste under 40 CFR Part 273. They break in transit and release mercury vapour, so they are handled separately everywhere. This one is federal, so it is the same answer in all fifty states. There is a correct destination for it that is not a landfill.

**General status**: No

**Rule type**: Federal

**Category**: Hazardous and regulated

## Check your local rules

Permit rules and disposal bans are set by state and city and change frequently. This page reflects the sources listed as of the review date. Verify with the department named before you order.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-17

## Where it goes instead

Hardware and home improvement retailers take tubes and CFLs at the service desk. LED bulbs contain no mercury and are not universal waste.

## Related questions
- The full accepted and prohibited materials matrix
- Can you put asbestos-containing material in a dumpster?
- Can you put car batteries and lead-acid batteries in a dumpster?
- Can you put paint and stain in a dumpster?
- Can you put propane tanks and gas cylinders in a dumpster?
- State waste bans and recycling mandates

## Sources
- Primary source Universal Waste — 40 CFR Part 273 — US Environmental Protection Agency · last reviewed 2026-08-17

Reviewed by [R. Tiwari](https://dumptergod.shop/authors/r-tiwari/) Last reviewed: 2026-08-17