Proper disposal of light bulbs protects the environment and enables valuable raw materials to be recycled. Energy-saving light bulbs and fluorescent tubes contain mercury, which can pollute soil and water if disposed of incorrectly. Even if  light bulbs  and halogen lamps do not contain any toxic substances, valuable materials are lost through improper disposal.

The Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) stipulates that  LED lamps, energy-saving lamps and fluorescent tubes may not be disposed of with household waste. They must be disposed of at collection points or in shops. Many supermarkets, DIY stores and electrical stores offer take-back systems to ensure recycling and environmentally friendly disposal.

The correct disposal of light bulbs is crucial in order to minimize environmental pollution and recycle valuable raw materials. Not all light bulbs should simply be thrown away with household waste. While incandescent bulbs and halogen lamps belong in the residual waste, energy-saving lamps, fluorescent tubes and LED lamps must be disposed of as hazardous waste or electronic waste. Below you can find out what the differences are and where you can dispose of your old light bulbs properly. 

1. disposing of light bulbs: Can be disposed of with household waste

Light bulbs do not contain any toxic substances and consist mainly of glass, a thin tungsten filament and a metal holder. As they cannot be recycled, they belong in the residual waste.

Not allowed:

• Disposal via the glass container (even if they are made of glass)

• Disposal via the recycling center for electronic waste

 Correct disposal:

• Directly into the household waste (residual waste garbage can)

• If the light bulb is broken, it is best to wrap it in paper or cardboard to avoid injury

2. dispose of halogen bulbs: directly in the residual waste bin

Halogen lamps are a further development of the classic light bulb and contain a special halogen gas filling. They have a higher luminous efficacy, but are still less efficient than modern LED lamps.

Not permitted:

• Disposal via the glass container

• Disposal as electronic waste

Correct disposal:

• Halogen lamps, just like light bulbs, belong in the household waste (residual waste garbage can)

• It is best to wrap broken lamps in paper to avoid injury

3. dispose of energy-saving lamps: hazardous waste due to mercury

Energy-saving light bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, which is why they should not be disposed of with household waste. The toxic mercury can be released when they break, which is why proper disposal is particularly important.

Not permitted:

• Disposal via household waste or glass containers

• Simply throw away without protective measures in case of breakage

Correct disposal:

• Hand in at collection points for hazardous waste or at specialist electrical retailers

• Many DIY stores, supermarkets and recycling centers take back energy-saving lamps free of charge

Beware of breakage:

• Ventilate the room well and pick up broken glass with gloves

• Do not use a vacuum cleaner or broom (spreads mercury vapors)

• Take broken glass to the collection point in airtight packaging

4. dispose of fluorescent tubes: use special collection points

Fluorescent tubes are a longer version of energy-saving lamps and also contain mercury, which is why they must not be disposed of with household waste. Due to their length, they can break easily and should be transported carefully.

Not allowed:

• Disposal via household waste or the glass container

• Throw broken tubes in the trash without protective measures

Correct disposal:

• Return to recycling centers or recycling yards

• Hand in at collection points of DIY stores or electrical stores

• Some cities offer special hazardous waste collection days

Be careful with breakages:

• Pack broken fluorescent tubes separately

• Ventilate the room well and pick up broken pieces with cardboard or gloves

• Dispose of in a sealed plastic bag

5. dispose of LED lamps: electronic waste

LED lamps do not contain any toxic substances, but they still do not belong in household waste. They consist of electronic components such as circuit boards and metals that can be recycled.

Not permitted:

• Disposal with residual waste

• Simply throw away

Correct disposal:

• Return to recycling centers or electrical collection points

• Many supermarkets and electronics stores offer free collection boxes

• Some manufacturers take back old LEDs when buying new ones

The correct disposal of old light bulbs is not only required by law, but is also an important contribution to environmental protection. While some lamps such as incandescent bulbs and halogen lamps can be disposed of with household waste, others such as LED lamps, energy-saving lamps and fluorescent tubes must be disposed of at special collection points.

Many people are unsure where to take their old light bulbs. Fortunately, there are several ways to dispose of old lamps properly. Here you can find out which collection points are available and where you can hand in your old lights.

Recycling centers and municipal collection points: The best choice for disposing of old light bulbs

Old light bulbs should always be disposed of properly to avoid environmental pollution and recycle valuable raw materials. One of the safest and most environmentally friendly options is to hand them in at recycling centers or municipal collection points. These facilities accept different types of light sources and ensure that they are processed properly.

The correct disposal of energy-saving lamps and fluorescent tubes is particularly important, as they contain small amounts of mercury and must therefore not be disposed of in household waste. Also LED lamps should not be disposed of with residual waste as they contain electronic components that can be recycled. Some recycling centers also accept halogen lamps, while light bulbs cannot be recycled and therefore belong in household waste.

Almost every town or municipality operates at least one recycling center where old light bulbs can be handed in free of charge. The exact locations and opening times can usually be found on the city council's website. In many regions, there are also mobile collection points or special drop-off days for electronic waste, where light bulbs can also be disposed of properly.

A visit to the recycling center is particularly worthwhile if, in addition to light bulbs, other  electrical appliances, batteries or hazardous waste  such as paints or chemicals need to be disposed of. Combined disposal means that several problematic substances can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way at once. Anyone who also wants to ensure that their old light bulbs recycled properly and in an environmentally friendly manner  are recycled properly and in an environmentally friendly manner, you should consider going to the nearest municipal collection point or recycling center.

Thanks to statutory regulations, it is now particularly easy to dispose of old light bulbs, as many retailers are obliged to take them back. 

In DIY stores, electrical stores and supermarkets with an electrical department you can conveniently hand in used energy-saving lamps, LED lamps and fluorescent tubes. Retailers with a sales area of more than 400 m² are legally obliged to take back these light sources - regardless of whether you buy a new lamp there or not. However, incandescent bulbs and halogen lamps still belong in the residual waste as they cannot be recycled. 

If you are unsure whether your store offers a take-back service, it is worth taking a quick look at their website or asking locally.

In many supermarkets, drugstores and electronics stores you will find practical Collection boxes for old light bulbs which enable quick and easy disposal.

Collection boxes:
These boxes are usually located in the entrance area or in the electrical department and take energy-saving lamps, LED lamps and small fluorescent tubes. However, light bulbs, halogen lamps and large fluorescent tubes are not permitted here and must be disposed of with residual waste or at the recycling center. In particular, larger REWE, Edeka, Aldi, DM, Rossmann, Toom, Hagebau or IKEA offer such collection points.  

If you are unsure whether your store has a collection box, you can simply ask at the checkout or information desk. 

The correct disposal of light bulbs is crucial for protecting the environment and recycling valuable raw materials. Nevertheless, many energy-saving lamps, fluorescent tubes and LED lamps still end up in household waste by mistake. This can not only have negative consequences for the environment, but in many cases also violates legal regulations. Here you can find out what mistakes are often made and how to avoid them.

Why energy-saving light bulbs and fluorescent tubes do not belong in household waste

Energy-saving light bulbs and fluorescent tubes contain mercury, a toxic shear metal that can be released into the environment if disposed of incorrectly. If such a lamp is disposed of with household waste, it can break during transportation or in the waste incineration plant and release toxic fumes:

The consequences of incorrect disposal are the pollution of soil and water, the risk to the health of waste workers and the environment from toxic fumes and the loss of valuable raw materials that can be recycled. Therefore, dispose of these lamps at a recycling center, collection point or retailer.

What happens if light bulbs are disposed of incorrectly

Light bulbs do not contain any toxic substances, but they cannot be recycled. Many people mistakenly throw them in the glass container as they are mostly made of glass. But this is a big mistake!

Disposing of light bulbs incorrectly can disrupt recycling processes and increase the risk of injury. As they are made of special glass, they must not be placed in the glass container, as foreign matter impairs the recycling quality. In addition, they can break in the wrong containers and pose a risk of injury. Light bulbs therefore always belong in the residual waste. 

Proper disposal of light bulbs, LED lamps, energy-saving lamps and fluorescent tubes is crucial to minimize environmental impact and recycle valuable raw materials. While incandescent bulbs and halogen lamps belong in the residual waste, energy-saving lamps, fluorescent tubes and LED lamps must be disposed of via recycling centers, collection points or retail return points.

Incorrect disposal can have serious consequences - especially in the case of energy-saving lamps and fluorescent tubes, which contain mercury and must not be disposed of with household waste. Light bulbs must also not be disposed of in the glass container, as their special glass can impair recycling.

Thanks to legal requirements, disposal is now easier than ever before: supermarkets, DIY stores and electrical stores offer collection boxes and take-back systems, while municipal recycling centers are a reliable point of contact for professional disposal.

Those who adhere to the regulations are actively helping to protect the environment and conserve resources. Conscious disposal ensures that valuable materials can be reused and harmful substances do not end up in the environment.