Tanning beds may provide sun-kissed skin indoors, but they present challenges when they reach the end of their usable life. A complex mix of materials and technologies that make recycling intricate and essential for personal well-being and environmental safety, tanning beds are a regular source of questions from Earth911 readers.​

Tanning beds are a prime example of the recycling difficulties created when industrial products are designed using many materials and hazardous components. Heavy, difficult to move, and potentially packed with mercury and PCBs, tanning beds include elements that need special handling to prevent environmental contamination and ensure public health.​ Many components must be sent to a hazardous waste facility for safe disposal.

Ultraviolet (UV) Lamps: Central to tanning beds are UV lamps, which often contain mercury—a toxic metal hazardous to the health of humans, animals, and aquatic life. Proper handling when transporting fluorescent tubes is crucial to your safety, as mercury can escape into the air when a fluorescent lamp is broken or leach into soil and water sources when dumped in a landfill.

Several states, including California, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington, require mercury-containing lamps to be recycled. Several hardware store chains, such as Home Depot, True Value, and Lowe’s, offer recycling programs for fluorescent lighting, but not all locations will accept the tubes used in tanning beds, so call ahead before visiting a store with your used tubes. Search Earth911’s Recycling Locator for local fluorescent tube drop-off locations.

Ballasts: The components that regulate the electrical current to the lamps, called ballasts, may contain toxic metals or PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), which require careful disposal. Specialized recycling centers or hazardous waste facilities are equipped to handle them safely—search Earth911 to find local balast recycling locations.​

Typically constructed from metal and plastic, ballasts can be recycled after hazardous components are removed. Many metal scrap companies can handle these ballast materials, removing the toxic elements before processing the metal for reuse.​ Likewise, recycling programs typically require ballasts to be removed from electronic products before drop-off.

When No Local Fluorescent & Ballast Recycling Is Available

If no local drop-off options for are available, a variety of mail-in programs offer safe, paid recycling programs for fluorescent tubes and, in several cases, ballasts:

Should You Disassemble An Old Tanning Bed

While it’s technically possible for owners to take apart a tanning bed for recycling, it is not recommended due to the potential hazards:

• Mercury Exposure. Breaking a UV lamp can release mercury vapor, posing inhalation risks.​
• Electrical Hazards: Improper handling of electrical components can lead to potentially deadly shocks.​

So, it’s advisable to consult professionals or services experienced in handling such equipment.​ Some cities—many in California, where you would think tanning beds weren’t needed— will pick up old beds for recycling, some for free and others asking for a fee. In communities without pick-up services, Earth911 recommends contacting GoLoadUp, which promises to handle tanning bed components responsibly.

Manufacturer and Retailer Take-Back Programs

At this writing, no manufacturers or retailers offer take-back or recycling programs to facilitate the proper disposal of tanning beds. That means the responsibility falls to the owner, which may make more folks think twice before buying a home tanning bed.