Today many things are recyclable, but not everything. Take light bulbs for instance.
Fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs contain mercury. Because of that, they require special care and should not go in your blue or yellow recycle bin. Nor should they go in the trash.
Palm Beach County residents can take their fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs to one of seven Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County Home Chemical and Recycling Centers for recycling and safe disposal. In the last fiscal year, Palm Beach County residents recycled more than 35,800 pounds of fluorescent lamps and 150 pounds of other mercury-containing devices.
If you have incandescent, halogen or LED bulbs that you are looking to dispose of, those can go in the trash.
While there is a searchable tool of where to recycle common items near you on the SWA’s website, the SWA’s seven Home Chemical and Recycling Center locations are (from north county to south county):
- Jupiter
North County Transfer Station
14185 Military Trail (SWA Road) in Jupiter
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- West Palm Beach
Home Chemical and Recycling Center
6161 N. Jog Road in West Palm Beach
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Belle Glade
Glades Regional Transfer Station
1701 State Road 15 in Belle Glade
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Royal Palm Beach
West Central Transfer Station
9743 Weisman Way in Royal Palm Beach
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Lantana
Central County Transfer Station
1810 Lantana Road in Lantana
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Delray Beach – West
Southwest County Transfer Station
13400 South State Road 7 in Delray Beach
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Delray Beach – East
South County Transfer Station
1901 SW 4th Ave. in Delray Beach
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Commercial quantities of items that contain mercury may require special disposal. Call 561-687-1100 for details on recycling mercury and mercury-containing devices from your business.
Put your waste in the proper place. The full lists of all household hazardous waste items accepted in the SWA’s program and what should go in your blue and yellow recycle bin are online.
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