Can you recycle led light bulbs?
Lamp-recycling points at recycling centres and larger shops — not kerbside, not general waste ideally
LED bulbs are electrical equipment containing recoverable components, so recycle them at bulb-collection points — most recycling centres, many supermarkets, and retailers like B&Q and IKEA have lamp bins (Recolight runs the network). They are safe (no mercury) so a broken one can go wrapped in general waste, but working recovery is preferred. Never put any bulb in glass recycling.
Tips
- Supermarket bulb bins take LEDs and CFLs
- Never in the bottle bank — bulb glass isn't container glass
Which bin does it go in?
Lamp-recycling points at recycling centres and larger shops — not kerbside, not general waste ideally
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Background: Batteries, vapes & electricals: the fire-risk items.
Also searched as: LED lamps, GU10s, LED spotlights.
✓ Checked against current UK guidance: 14 Jul 2026. Spot an error or an out-of-date rule?