Where should LED light bulbs be disposed of?

The replacement of old incandescent light bulbs (which, by law, can no longer be manufactured in Europe since 2012) with LED ones is an important step to reduce environmental impact. In fact, it is possible to obtain the same light while reducing electricity consumption by up to 80% and ensuring greater product longevity. But where should you dispose of a used LED light bulb?

Disposing of light bulbs is a matter of great importance for protecting the environment. There are two main ways to dispose of light bulbs correctly, whether they are incandescent, halogen or LED: using recycling centres for separate waste collection and take-back services at retailers.

• Recycling is one of the simplest and most effective solutions for responsibly disposing of light bulbs. Most cities offer waste collection services for electronic materials, such as LED light bulbs. Here, all the necessary operations will be carried out to safely disassemble the light bulb and ensure the correct recycling of its components.
• Furthermore, light bulb retailers provide collection and recycling services for spent light bulbs. This means the place where you buy them is also where you can dispose of them, ensuring proper disposal and more efficient recyclability. Creative Cables also offers this service in its mono-brand shops in Milan, Rome and Turin, where you can drop off your non-functioning light bulbs for correct disposal.

LED light bulbs last much longer than halogen or incandescent light bulbs, so it will take much longer before they need to be disposed of. A LED light bulb in a table lamp or pendant light can last up to 25,000 hours, so it usually takes 5–10 years before it needs to be replaced.

It is also important to dispose of LED light bulbs correctly to maximise the environmental benefits of energy saving. Their complex chemical composition means it can take from a few decades up to 500 years to decompose if not recycled properly. If thrown in with general waste or in rubbish bins, they will not only release harmful vapours and chemicals into the environment, but will also result in the loss of valuable resources. For this reason, light bulbs must be disposed of properly. This will not only help conserve resources, but also reduce waste and avoid soil contamination.

Although LED light bulbs in all the lamps at home are an excellent option for saving energy and costs, they contain a variety of hazardous chemicals and therefore must be recycled properly to prevent environmental damage, just like all electrical and electronic equipment. It is also important to remember that LED light bulbs contain materials such as glass, copper and other precious metals that can be recycled. For this reason, they must be disposed of in containers designated for WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). 

For information on how to dispose of light bulbs, consult the website of your waste management authority. You can also contact your local authority for advice on safe disposal, as rules vary from country to country.

In Italy, the options are:

• you can return them to the point of sale when you buy a new light bulb: collection is free by law and must take place following the purchase of a product equivalent to the one returned.
• you can take them to authorised collection centres, known as recycling points. By law, specific collection centres called recycling points have been set up across Italy. To find the nearest one, simply visit the Centro di Coordinamento RAEE website.
• If you’re a Creative Cables customer, you can bring your used LED light bulbs to the brand’s stores in Milan, Rome and Turin.