CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) are considered universal waste and there is a ban on them in most states waste streams. I handle a lot of CFLs and do pick ups for my E-waste customers. They are a very good business as long as you can get a lot of them together and have a nice outlet for recycling them. The prices for disposal/recycling should range from .07-.10 per linear foot for proper recycling. This is important because most of the large accounts I deal with want some type of certificate or proof that they were handled properly.
Also, if you are storing them they require a separate permit than the normal e-waste permits most states require you to have. They are considered universal. Be very careful with lightbulbs. They contain trace amounts of mercury which is why they are considered semi-hazardous. The big companies that own the machines which process the bulbs provide a box service with return postage. Those boxes cost the consumer upwards of .50 per linear foot. I do it for half that and make a pretty nice profit. With a solid book of business collecting universal waste you can send out trailer loads of properly packaged universal waste on a semi-regular basis.
If you are interested, I will say one thing about this business opportunity that you need to be aware of. U-Bend, HIDs, etc are all very expensive to recycle due to their awkward shape. These often cost .70-85 per bulb and most consumers are very surprised to hear their cost compared to the cost of the straight lamps. I have found universal waste recycling to be extremely lucrative and there is a very large market for it. The boxes being offered by the big companies leaves a huge market for those who are willing to provide their own boxes, collect and ship the material themselves in bulk.
I am hoping/assuming the bulbs you are talking about are incandescents. These contain little to no health hazards when broken (unless you cut yourself).
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