Postal Service™ employees and contractors who handle, store, and dispose of waste light bulbs and used batteries must adhere to the proper procedures.
Bulbs and batteries often contain hazardous components such as mercury and lead and cannot be tossed in the trash when they have become spent or inoperable. These items are regulated wastes and must be recycled.
Examples of regulated bulbs include fluorescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), high-intensity discharge (HID), light-emitting diode (LED), and ultraviolet. Batteries that are regulated include lithium-based batteries typically found in mobile scanners, laptops, and phones, plus small non–alkaline dry-cell and lead-acid batteries.
California also regulates alkaline batteries. Large batteries, such as vehicle and forklift batteries, have different requirements.
Those who manage waste bulbs and batteries must be properly trained. Training is available in MyHR.
For more information about waste bulbs and used batteries, contact your USPS® Environmental Specialist at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/regional-environmental-compliance-all.htm, or refer to the following webpages:
n blue.usps.gov/sustainability/bulb-recycling.htm.
n blue.usps.gov/sustainability/battery-recycling.htm.
— Environmental Affairs and
Corporate Sustainability, 3-19-26
