How to Dispose of Light Bulbs in Glasgow
Old light bulbs aren't accepted in Glasgow's domestic kerbside recycling — and some types contain mercury or other materials that mean they need handled separately. Here's the disposal route for every type of bulb in 2026.
Bulb types and disposal route
TABLE:Bulb type,Material,Disposal route|Incandescent (old screw / bayonet),Glass + tungsten filament,General waste bin|Halogen,Glass + filament,General waste bin|LED,Plastic + LED chip + driver,WEEE — small electricals at HWRC|CFL (curly energy-saver),Glass + small mercury vapour,WEEE — separate bay at HWRC|Fluorescent tube (4ft),Glass + mercury vapour,WEEE — separate tube bay at HWRC
Where to recycle in Glasgow
- Polmadie HWRC, Shawfield Drive, G5 0RA — has dedicated WEEE and tube bays
- Easter Queenslie HWRC, G33 4LD
- Shieldhall HWRC, G51 4SE
- Dawsholm HWRC, G20 0TB
- IKEA Braehead — accepts CFL and LED bulbs at the recycling station near the entrance
- B&Q Glasgow stores — small electricals take-back including bulbs
What if a CFL or fluorescent tube breaks?
Energy-saver and fluorescent tubes contain a small amount of mercury vapour. If one breaks indoors:
- Open windows and leave the room for 15 minutes
- Don't vacuum — the heat vaporises mercury
- Sweep up with stiff card and a damp cloth, wearing gloves
- Seal in a glass jar or sealed plastic bag
- Take to HWRC labelled "broken CFL — mercury"
The amount of mercury in one bulb is tiny (about 4mg) but the cumulative effect of putting them in your wheelie bin where they get crushed at the transfer station is significant.
LED bulbs
LED bulbs aren't hazardous but they contain electronics — chips, drivers and small amounts of rare-earth metals. They are WEEE waste and should go in the small electricals bay at HWRC, not in general waste. Glasgow recycling centres accept them in the WEEE container.
Old halogen and incandescent bulbs
Standard incandescent and halogen bulbs are not officially recyclable in Glasgow. They are not glass-recyclable (the type of glass is wrong for the kerbside stream) and contain no electronics. They go in your general waste bin (black bin) — wrap the bulb in newspaper first to avoid breakage cuts for the bin handlers.
Bulk bulb disposal
For commercial premises (hotels, offices, retail) replacing fluorescent tubes en masse during a refit, mercury-containing tubes are hazardous waste. They need a licensed WEEE collector, not domestic disposal. Our commercial waste service handles tube collections as part of property refurbishment clearances.
Need Help Disposing of It?
If you'd rather we collected and legally disposed of it for you, send us a photo on WhatsApp at 07951 488152 and we'll come back with a fixed quote inside 60 minutes. SEPA registered (WCR/R/3011855), fully insured. From £30 across Glasgow, Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland.