How do you dispose of electron tubes in Germany as of 2026?

Electron tubes that you want to dispose of belong in household waste in Germany, usually in the grey or black bin. Standard tubes used for private home applications do not contain harmful materials. The silver mirror inside the tube is not mercury, but the so-called getter mirror made of barium.

There are exceptions, of course – in such cases you should ask a specialist such as BTB, as there are also tubes that contain mercury, radioactive materials or toxic metals such as beryllium.