Fluorescent, CFL and HID
Straight and U-bend tubes, CFLs, metal halide, high pressure sodium and mercury vapor lamps. EPA lists all of them as universal waste lamps. Lamp recycling
Lamp recycling information for Boulder, CO.
This page covers lamp recycling information for Boulder, CO; it does not confirm service availability. Send your ZIP and counts. A written quote will confirm whether pickup or mail-back is available.
- Fluorescent, CFL and HID
- Ballasts and batteries
- Availability checked by ZIP
- A record for every job
Colorado rules
The Colorado lamp rules that apply in Boulder.
Boulder sits in Boulder County, Colorado. These rows come from Colorado agency, statute or EPA pages we read; the federal baseline fills any gap.
| Topic | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New lamp sales | HB23-1161 bans manufacture, distribution, and sale of linear fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps in Colorado from January 1, 2025. | Colorado General Assembly, Environmental Standards For Appliances (HB23-1161) |
| Batteries | The Colorado Battery Stewardship Act (SB 25-163) requires battery producers to fund statewide collection and recycling, with compliant-brand sales required from August 1, 2027. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Battery Stewardship and... |
| Universal waste | EPA's state table lists lamps in Colorado's universal waste program. | EPA, Universal Waste Programs in the United States |
| Federal baseline | Under federal rules, business lamps can be managed as universal waste under 40 CFR Part 273. That means closed containers that prevent breakage, a label, and no more than one year in storage. | 40 CFR Part 273 |
| Regulator | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Hazardous waste management... |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Read from the sources named, October 3, 2026. Rows appear only where a source was verified. Federal rules shown where noted. States can be stricter. Not legal advice.
What we take
Three streams, one quote.
PCB and non-PCB
EPA says ballasts made before July 2, 1979 may contain PCBs. We keep pre-1979 and unlabeled ballasts apart from the rest of the load. Ballast recycling
By chemistry
EPA asks that lithium batteries be bagged one per bag or have their terminals taped. We collect them with your lamps. Battery recycling
Local programs
What applies in and around Boulder.
Boulder Building Performance Ordinance
Boulder's Building Performance Ordinance requires covered buildings to report energy use every year. It also requires an energy assessment every 10 years and a one-time lighting upgrade.
City of Boulder, Healthy Buildings, Stronger Community: Existing Policies and Programs
Boulder County business lamp drop-off by appointment
Boulder County's hazardous materials facility takes fluorescent tubes and CFLs from qualifying very small quantity generator businesses. Business drop-off is Tuesdays by appointment only, with fees by type and weight.
Boulder County, Hazardous Waste Disposal for Businesses
Local sources as named, checked when this page was built. Programs change; confirm with the program before relying on it.
How it works
Four steps from Boulder storage room to recycling record.
Count by type
Rough counts are enough: four-foot tubes, eight-foot tubes, CFLs, HID lamps, ballasts and batteries.
Send the form
Add your ZIP code. We review availability and include any available service method in a written quote.
Pack and label
Keep every lamp whole. Close and label each container, and keep ballasts and batteries apart.
Keep the record
Every job ends with a recycling record that shows what was collected and that it went to a permitted recycler.
Boulder questions
What Boulder facilities teams ask.
Can a business in Boulder put fluorescent tubes in the trash?
Under federal rules, business lamps can be managed as universal waste under 40 CFR Part 273. That means closed containers that prevent breakage, a label, and no more than one year in storage. Send counts from your Boulder site and we reply with a written quote.
Can lamps be crushed in Colorado?
The Colorado sources we read did not settle this, so check with the state agency first. EPA treats drum-top crushing as treatment, and several states ban it. Whole lamps ship as universal waste and keep their mercury inside.
Is Colorado banning fluorescent tubes?
HB23-1161 bans manufacture, distribution, and sale of linear fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps in Colorado from January 1, 2025. When new tubes get hard to buy, fixtures tend to convert to LED and the old lamps, ballasts and batteries all come out at once.
Can you collect from a Boulder site?
Send your ZIP code and rough counts with the form. We check whether pickup or mail-back is available there before quoting. A city page is not a service guarantee. Every completed job ends with a recycling record.
Federal rules shown where noted. States can be stricter. Not legal advice.
More near Boulder.
Also nearby
Lamps waiting at a Boulder site?
Send rough counts and your ZIP. The written quote will confirm whether pickup or mail-back is available for that location.