The safe handling, storage and proper disposal of any mercury-containing light bulbs is an important safety consideration for all persons who service these style of lighting fixtures.

The University must collect all fluorescent tubes and mercury-containing bulbs and properly dispose of these units at an approved mercury reclamation recycling facility. To ensure that the University collects all fluorescent lights and mercury vapor bulbs on campus, we have identified specific storage locations that the bulbs will need to be brought for accumulation, prior to EEM collection and disposal.

North Campus

  • Olney Basement/Loading Dock
  • Lydon Library storage/dock ground floor
  • Olsen Basement
  • PTB Loading Dock
  • ETIC Loading Dock

South Campus

  • Moloney Performing Arts Center Basement Room B14
  • O’Leary Basement Room B20
  • Health & Social Sciences (HSS) Room 101
  • Weed Hall Room 107
  • Dugan Basement Room B37E
  • Sheehy Loading Dock
  • Riverview Suites Room 110 (next to fitness center)

East Campus

  • Wannalancit Loading Dock
  • University Suites Rear Loading Dock
  • Donahue Hall Side Entrance
  • Fox Hall Loading Dock
  • University Crossing Loading Dock

How to safely collect, transport and dispose of light bulbs:

  • Always wear safety glasses when handling lights (bulbs are pressurized and can cause serious bodily injury when dropped or accidentally broken).
  • Place burnt bulb(s) in a labeled, dated, cardboard universal waste drum. Once a bulb is removed from its fixture and is considered waste it must be stored in a universal waste drum.
  • Bring burnt bulb(s) to above listed central collection room, for Sustainability pick-up and disposal.
  • Long 4 ft+ tube bulbs should be placed inside of a cardboard universal waste drum. Short circular or spherical bulbs should be placed in a cardboard universal waste bin. 
  • When a drum is identified as full, please submit a service request via EEM/Sustainability to schedule a pickup/replacement.

If a fluorescent or mercury vapor bulb is accidentally broken, contact the EHS Office at x4-2618 for response and or information. The broken light must be placed in a sealed container (with fragments) and placed in the central collection room. The date of when the bulb was picked-up must be marked on the container.

Contact the EHS Office at x4-2618 if further information or clarification is required.