Light Bulbs (LED) Alternative ways to recycle Household Hazardous Waste Big-box stores like Lowes, Home Depot, and IKEA may offer in-store recycling bins where you can drop off your old LED light bulbs. Many municipal safety departments offer both LED and CFL recycling on specific days or at set locations. Check Earth 911 for recycling locations. Never Throw in the Garbage LED light bulbs contain lead and arsenic, which are hazardous to your health and the environment. Never throw them away. Store them in a sealed container, and dispose of them as hazardous waste. Wrap Before Disposing Since light bulbs are fragile and can break, wrap them in newspaper and taping everything in place before disposing of the bulb. Broken glass can injure sanitation workers. Alternative Ways to Recycle Batteries Plus Bulbs Recycling Services Batteries Plus Bulbs accepts a wide variety of batteries and light bulbs for recycling, including LED light bulbs. See a full list of items they accept here. Depending on the item, a small fee may apply. Find your closest location. Did You Know? Which Bulbs Are More Energy Efficient Than Incandescent Lamps? LED lights are more energy efficient than incandescent and CFL bulbs: They last 50 times as long as traditional incandescent bulb and use 80 percent less energy. Fluorescent bulbs last three to 25 times longer than incandescents and use anywhere between 20 and 80 percent less energy.