Recycling Bulbs, Batteries & Styrofoam

Recycling bulbs, batteries, and Styrofoam requires special handling since they contain materials that can be harmful to the environment if disposed of improperly. Because disposing of these items requires extra steps, it’s easy for them to collect and add to our household chore lists. Here are my suggestions on how to recycle these items responsibly and keep them from accumulating in your home.

Make Your Recyclables Obvious

It’s not all too frequent that we have a battery die, or a bulb burnout, and small loose items like this are easily set down and forgotten about, accumulating in several different areas of our homes. My recommendation is to make a recyclables zone in your house or garage that is easy to see and access. Use bins or cardboard boxes that are clearly labeled to collect these items. Once full, it’s time to make a run to your local recycling drop-off.

Are you ready to declutter your home and establish sustainable systems that benefit both you and the environment? Contact me here to schedule a discovery call.

My Favorite Recycling Resources

Ridwell

Ridwell offers convenient recycling services for hard-to-recycle household items, making it easy to reduce waste without extra hassle. They collect items like plastic film, batteries, light bulbs, and textiles right from your doorstep, so you don’t have to make special trips.

Recology:

Recology is a Resource Recovery recycling service that has a local storefront in Issaquah’s Gilman Village. Discover and stock up on low and zero-waste products and refer to their website or one of their in-store employees for more recycling info!

How to Recycle:

Incandescent and halogen bulbs are not considered hazardous waste and may be thrown away in your regular garbage. LED and Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) bulbs contain mercury and other dangerous compounds and should not be disposed of in the trash or recycled. Many home improvement stores, such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, often have bulb recycling programs. Check out LightRecycle to learn more about bulb recycling programs near you, and use their Collection Site Locator to see where you can drop off your used bulbs.

Batteries

Batteries contain heavy metals and should never be disposed of in household trash. Rechargeable batteries (like lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium) can be dropped off at electronics stores such as Best Buy or Staples, which often have battery recycling programs. Single-use alkaline batteries (such as AA and AAA) should be dropped off at a local recycling collection site. You can check Call2Recycle’s website to learn more about battery recycling locations and regulations in your area.

Styrofoam

Styrofoam's recycling options are typically more limited. Packing peanuts and styrofoam food containers are not accepted for recycling and should be disposed of in the trash. If you have foam blocks, you may drop them off at your closest transfer station.