Portland fluorescent tube disposal: HHW drop-off, hauler pickup, and what to verify before you go

Quick Answer — Portland fluorescent tube disposal at a glance

Fluorescent tubes contain mercury and are classified as household hazardous waste (HHW). Portland city ordinances prohibit putting them in the trash. You have two general routes — drop off at a Metro HHW facility or schedule a bulky-waste pickup with your assigned garbage hauler.

Your first step every time: Call the Portland Garbage and Recycling Hotline at 503-823-7202 or visit portland.gov/bps/garbage-recycling before moving any tubes. Confirm the options that apply to your address, housing type, and tube condition. The official hub provides hauler lookup, service setup, and large household waste disposal information. All other details — facility names, hours, fees, appointment rules — must be verified by phone.

The table below gives you the decision framework. Any cell marked "Verify" means the hotline or your hauler must confirm before you act.

Quick facts — Portland fluorescent tube disposal

Jurisdiction warning — Portland city limits only

This guide covers addresses inside Portland city limits only. If you live in unincorporated Multnomah County, Gresham, Beaverton, Tigard, Lake Oswego, or any other Metro-area municipality, your garbage hauler, services, and HHW rules are different. Call your own city's public works department instead.

HHW drop-off vs. hauler pickup — which route fits your situation?

Route 1: Metro HHW drop-off — Portland mercury-containing lamp recycling

The Portland region's hazardous waste system is operated by Metro, the regional government authority that manages waste reduction. Metro runs permanent HHW facilities where residents can drop off fluorescent tubes, paint, batteries, pesticides, and other hazardous materials. This is the primary channel for Portland HHW drop-off of fluorescent tubes and other mercury-containing lamps.

What the official source confirms: The Portland garbage hub at portland.gov/bps/garbage-recycling lists large household waste disposal options and provides the 503-823-7202 hotline. The hotline can direct you to the appropriate Metro facility for your address. For general PDX tube recycling information, this hub is the starting point for all Portland HHW disposal routes.

What is NOT confirmed and must be verified by phone:

• Facility names and addresses. Metro operates multiple sites (commonly referred to as Metro South, Metro Central, etc.), but no facility names, street addresses, or hours are in the verified sources. Ask the hotline for the current drop-off site closest to you.
• Fees. No dollar amount is confirmed. Ask: "Is there a fee for fluorescent tubes? How much per visit or per tube?"
• Appointment rules. Some facilities require an appointment; others accept walk-ins. Ask: "Do I need an appointment or can I walk in?"
• Quantity limits. No per-visit limit is documented. Ask whether there is a cap on tubes per trip.
• Proof of residency. Ask what ID is required — a driver's license, utility bill, or something else.
• Broken tube acceptance. Ask specifically: "Do you accept broken tubes if they are properly sealed?"

Route 2: Garbage hauler bulky-waste pickup

Portland divides the city into franchise zones, each served by a specific company (such as Waste Management, Republic Services, or another franchise hauler). If your assigned hauler accepts fluorescent tubes as part of their bulky-waste program, you can schedule a pickup.

What is known: You can look up your hauler through the Portland garbage hub. The hotline can tell you which company serves your address.

What to verify with your hauler:

• Do they accept fluorescent tubes at all?
• How must tubes be packaged for pickup?
• Is there an extra charge beyond the regular bulky-waste fee?
• Do they accept broken tubes?
• How far in advance must you schedule?

Intact vs. broken tubes — preparation and cleanup

Preparing intact tubes for transport or pickup

1. Tape the ends with duct tape or packing tape — the pin ends are the most fracture-prone point.
2. Wrap each tube in newspaper or bubble wrap to prevent glass-to-glass contact.
3. Place in a sturdy cardboard box — never a trash bag, which offers no protection.
4. Pad empty space with crumpled newspaper so tubes cannot shift.
5. Label the box "Fluorescent Tubes — Fragile" so handlers know to treat it carefully.
6. Keep upright if possible, or lay flat with tubes oriented parallel to the ground and secured against sliding.

Handling a broken tube — mercury cleanup

If you break a fluorescent tube, mercury vapor and powder are released. These steps follow EPA-recommended cleanup protocol (no Portland-specific procedure is confirmed in the verified sources — verify with the hotline):

1. Evacuate the room — keep people and pets away for at least 15 minutes. Open windows and doors.
2. Do NOT vacuum. Vacuuming spreads mercury powder into the air and contaminates the vacuum. Never use a broom either, which breaks particles into smaller fragments.
3. Collect fragments using stiff paper or cardboard. Use sticky tape (duct tape, packing tape) to pick up smaller shards and powder residue.
4. Seal everything in a glass jar with a screw-top lid or a thick, sealable plastic bag. Include the paper, tape, and anything that touched the debris.
5. Wipe the area with a damp paper towel and place the towel in the same sealed container.
6. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
7. Ventilate the room for several hours after cleanup.

Disposal: Call 503-823-7202 to confirm whether your chosen facility or hauler accepts broken tubes in sealed containers. Most HHW facilities accept properly sealed broken lamps; most haulers do not.

Drop-off, event, and appointment choices

Metro HHW facilities

The most direct route for Portland residents who can drive. Call 503-823-7202 with this list of specific questions to get everything you need in one call:

1. "Where is the nearest Metro facility that accepts fluorescent tubes?"
2. "What are the current hours — are they open weekends?"
3. "Is there a fee? How much?"
4. "Do I need an appointment or can I walk in?"
5. "Do you accept broken tubes if properly sealed?"
6. "What proof of residency do I need?"
7. "Is there a limit on how many tubes per visit?"

Curbside pickup through your hauler

If you cannot drive, this is your alternative — but only if your hauler accepts tubes. Call your assigned garbage company with the same decision-driving questions listed above.

HHW collection events

Metro occasionally holds special HHW collection events at different locations. No event dates, schedules, or locations are confirmed in the verified sources. When you call 503-823-7202, ask: "Are there any upcoming HHW collection events where I can drop off fluorescent tubes?"

Apartment and multifamily edge cases

What is known: Multifamily garbage and recycling rules may differ from single-family service. The property owner or manager holds the garbage account, not the individual renter.

What this means for you:

• You likely cannot schedule a bulky-waste pickup yourself. The property manager controls the contract with the hauler.
• Shared dumpsters are still subject to mercury disposal laws. Placing tubes in the building's dumpster is illegal and could result in fines against the property.
• Your building may have no HHW disposal process at all, or it may have a bulk arrangement you do not know about.

Action steps for apartment renters:

1. Ask your property manager whether the building has a hazardous waste disposal process or has coordinated with the hauler for HHW pickup.
2. Call 503-823-7202 and ask specifically: "I rent an apartment and do not have a city waste account. Can I still use the Metro HHW drop-off? What proof of residency do I need?"
3. If the property manager has no plan, ask whether they can schedule a single bulky-waste pickup on behalf of the building. Many managers do not know this is an option.
4. Do not put tubes in a shared dumpster under any circumstances. The mercury violation can fall on the property owner, who may pass the cost to you.

Car-free renters: Ask the hotline about MAX Light Rail or streetcar access to the nearest Metro facility. Plan your route before hauling glass tubes on transit.

Business and commercial quantity caveat

This guide covers household quantities only. If you are disposing of tubes from a business, office, or commercial renovation, different rules apply:

• Businesses must use a licensed hazardous waste transporter. Metro HHW facilities are for residential waste only.
• Commercial fluorescent tube disposal requires a hazardous waste manifest in most cases.
• Do not attempt to dispose of commercial quantities through the residential HHW system. Facilities check for commercial loads and may turn you away or report the violation.

Businesses in Portland should contact the Oregon DEQ hazardous waste program or search for a DEQ-permitted mercury lamp recycler.

Transport safety — getting tubes to the drop-off

Driving

• Place the box in the trunk, passenger footwell, or cargo area. Wedge it so it cannot tip or slide.
• Do not stack heavy items on top of the box.
• Drive cautiously over speed bumps and rough roads — the most common cause of in-transit breakage is an unrestrained box hitting a sharp bump.
• Secure each box independently if you are transporting multiple boxes.

Public transit (MAX, streetcar, bus)

• Use a rigid container — a plastic tote with a lid or a thick cardboard box. A backpack or cloth bag will not protect tubes from jostling.
• Keep the container on your lap or between your feet. Do not place it in an overhead rack.
• Travel during off-peak hours if possible to reduce the risk of someone knocking into your container.
• Ask the hotline for the nearest transit stop to the drop-off site.

Mistakes to avoid

Throwing tubes in the trash. The most common and most serious mistake. Fluorescent tubes contain mercury, a neurotoxin. Portland ordinance prohibits mercury-containing items in the trash. Fines apply.

Assuming your hauler accepts tubes. Not all haulers take fluorescent tubes, and even fewer accept broken ones. Call first.

Showing up at a Metro facility without calling ahead. Facilities change hours, fees, and acceptance policies. A five-minute call to 503-823-7202 saves a wasted trip.

Vacuuming after a break. Never vacuum broken tube debris — it disperses mercury powder into the air. Use the tape-and-cardboard method described above.

Transporting tubes in a trash bag. A bag offers zero protection. Always use a rigid container with padding.

Ignoring apartment rules. Shared dumpsters are still subject to mercury laws. If the property manager finds tubes in the dumpster, you could be charged for hazmat removal.

Not asking about broken-tube policy before arriving. Some facilities accept intact tubes but refuse broken ones. Ask before you go.

Resident scenarios

Homeowner with accumulated tubes. Dave bought a house in Southeast Portland with 20 leftover shop-light tubes in the garage. He calls 503-823-7202. The hotline tells him to use Metro South, gives him the hours, and confirms a small drop-off fee. He tapes the tube ends, wraps them in newspaper, packs them in a box, and drives to the facility on Saturday morning. He learns he does not need an appointment between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Total time from call to drop-off: about an hour.

Apartment renter with no car. Selena rents in the Pearl District and has four CFL bulbs plus one straight tube from a desk lamp. She calls the hotline to ask whether renters can use Metro drop-off. Yes — she only needs a photo ID proving Portland residency. The nearest facility is 15 minutes by MAX. She packs the tubes in a rigid art-supply tube and a small box, takes the MAX on a Sunday afternoon, and pays no fee for small household quantities. Total cost: a $2.50 MAX day pass.

Property manager with 40 units. Angela manages a Northeast Portland apartment building. Tenants keep asking about tube disposal. She calls 503-823-7202 and learns multifamily properties can schedule a bulk HHW pickup through their franchise hauler. She contacts Republic Services, schedules one pickup, and sends a building-wide email: "Bring sealed tubes to the management office by the 15th." The building pays a small bulky-waste fee and stays compliant.

Homeowner who drops a tube. Lisa breaks a tube in her kitchen. She opens the window, sends her kids to another room, collects glass with cardboard, picks up powder with duct tape, seals everything in a mason jar, and wipes the floor with a damp paper towel. She then calls the hotline to confirm Metro accepts broken tubes in sealed jars. It does. She labels the jar "Broken Fluorescent Tube — Mercury" and drops it off the next day. By not vacuuming, she avoided contaminating her entire apartment.

Official verification checklist — what to ask before you go

Call 503-823-7202 or visit portland.gov/bps/garbage-recycling and confirm each of these before moving any tubes:

1. Does the facility near me accept fluorescent tubes right now?
2. What is the current fee?
3. Do I need an appointment or can I walk in?
4. Are broken tubes accepted if properly sealed?
5. What are the current hours?
6. What proof of residency do I need?
7. Is there a quantity limit per visit?
8. If I cannot drive, is the facility accessible by MAX or streetcar?
9. If I am a renter without a city waste account, am I still eligible?

Check off each item before heading out. A five-minute call saves an hour of wasted driving.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put fluorescent tubes in the recycling bin?

No. Fluorescent tubes contain mercury and are not accepted in single-stream recycling. They must go through the HHW system.

What about CFL bulbs?

CFLs also contain trace mercury and follow the same rules. Dispose of them through Metro HHW drop-off or hauler pickup. Never trash them.

How many tubes can I bring at once?

No specific limit is confirmed. A box of 10-20 tubes from home fixture replacements is typical household quantity. A contractor van with 200 tubes is commercial and will be refused. Ask the hotline about large loads.

What if I live outside Portland city limits?

This guide applies only to Portland addresses. Gresham, Beaverton, Tigard, Milwaukie, and unincorporated Multnomah County have different haulers and rules. Check with your city's public works department.

Is there a fee for Metro drop-off?

No fee is confirmed in the verified sources. Some Metro facilities charge; others may offer free disposal for certain items. Call 503-823-7202 and ask before you go.

Can I donate used tubes?

No. Used fluorescent tubes contain mercury and degrade over time. They are not safe for resale or donation. HHW disposal or licensed recycling are the only legal options.

What if my apartment has no disposal plan?

You can still use Metro drop-off as an individual. Call 503-823-7202 to confirm your eligibility as a renter. A Portland address on your ID or lease may be sufficient.

Is there a pickup service for people with disabilities?

The verified sources does not document a dedicated service. Call 503-823-7202 and ask whether Metro or a local hauler offers accommodations for residents who cannot transport tubes themselves.

Sources

• Portland Garbage, Recycling, and Compost (official hub): portland.gov/bps/garbage-recycling
• Verified facts: service setup, hauler lookup, hotline 503-823-7202, large household waste disposal options, multifamily rule differences
• EPA mercury cleanup protocol (general guidance): epa.gov/mercury/cleaning-broken-cfl
• Used for: broken tube cleanup steps. This is federal guidance, not Portland-specific. Ask the hotline if Metro has adopted different cleanup rules.

Verify before acting: This guide relies on the Portland garbage hub and general EPA guidance. Facility names, addresses, hours, fees, appointment rules, broken-tube acceptance, event schedules, and apartment-specific procedures are not confirmed in the verified sources. Policies change. Always call 503-823-7202 or visit portland.gov/bps/garbage-recycling before taking action. If the hotline gives different information than what is written here, follow the hotline.