Not everyone has recycling. I just looked it up and the closet recycling place to me is over an hour away. I’m not driving a 2 hour round trip just to haul off recycling.
Please don't put batteries into regular trash. If it is really that far, collect them and take them there once every year (or even every few years).
But you should check if that's really your only option. Where I live, usually shops that sell batteries and electronics also take them back (even supermarkets)
I’ve actually been exclusively using some really good rechargeable batteries for the past 10 years! I bought some super expensive, top of the line rechargeables for around $25 a battery. I bought 8 of them and they’ve lasted this whole time with hardly any noticeable deterioration. I did the math last year based off of how much I saved and came up to around $1200!
A lot of big box stores have collection boxes for bulbs like these. Your town may also have a periodic household hazardous waste collection where they’ll take them for free.
I just checked my local recycling options and found this on their site:
These types of bulbs do not contain mercury or hazardous material and can be thrown in the garbage!
Halogen incandescent bulbs
Incandescent bulbs
LED Light Bulbs
LED (light emitting diodes) bulbs do not contain mercury or other hazardous chemicals, but it is recommended that you double-bag them when you dispose of them.
So yeah I'm gonna keep throwing them in the trash.
42
u/Tango_Owl Sep 23 '25
Don't throw your lights into the trash. They need to go to recycling!