The Take-it-Back partnership in Santa Cruz now provides County residents with a no-cost opportunity to properly recycling of fluorescent lamps, including tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).

All fluorescent lamps contain a minute amount of mercury which can harm the environment if the bulbs are not recycled properly. Under the program, over a dozen local lamp retailers take back lamps in their stores, and the Pacific Gas and Electric Company provides funding for fluorescent lamp recycling. The program is sponsored by local governments and coordinated by the County Public Works Department.

Please contact Tim Goncharoff of County Public Works at (831) 454-2160 if you have any questions about this pilot program. NEVER throw your used fluorescent bulbs in the trash or recycling! Take them to one of the stores below at no cost. Limit: 10 bulbs per day. Compact fluorescents and tubes up to 4′ length accepted.

Participating Stores:

Aptos
ACE Hardware
72 Rancho del Mar
(831) 662-0222

Ben Lomond
Scarborough Lumber
9470 Highway 9
(831) 336-5142

Boulder Creek
Scarborough Lumber
12990 Highway 9
(831) 338-6467

Capitola
Orchard Supply Hardware
1601 41st Av.
(831) 475-7701

Felton
Felton Paint and Hardware
6291 Hwy 9
(831) 335-4838

Santa Cruz
ACE Hardware
855 Almar Av.
(831) 426-7650
ACE Hardware
1214 Soquel Av.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 457-2222

GreenSpace
1122 Soquel Av.
(831) 423-7200

Illuminée
402 Ingalls St. Ste. 23
(831) 423-1121

ProBuild
235 River St.
(831) 426-1020

Riverside Lighting
300 Soquel Av.
(831) 423-7411
Scotts Valley

Scarborough Lumber
20 El Pueblo Rd.
(831) 438-0331

Scarborough Lumber
218 Mt Hermon Rd.
(831) 438-0581

Soquel
ProBuild
2435 41st Av.
(831) 475-6100

Watsonville
Orchard Supply Hardware
1060 S Green Valley Rd.
(831) 728-7701

ACE Hardware
1984 Freedom Blvd.
(831) 724-4740

ACE Hardware
451 Main St.
(831) 724-4749

Fluorescent bulbs and tubes are also accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at the disposal site serving your community. Call 831-454-2606 for locations and hours of operation.

This information courtesy Santa Cruz County Dept. of Public Works, Fluorescent Lamp Take-Back Program