Why PL & CFL Lamps Are Being Phased Out — and the LED PL Replacements

If you've struggled to find a replacement PL/CFL lamp lately, you're seeing policy in action. Plug-in compact fluorescent lamps are being phased out across a growing number of states. Here's why — and the easy path forward.

General information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and change often; see our Lighting Regulations & Safety Disclaimer.

The Driver: Mercury

Every fluorescent lamp — including twin-tube, quad-tube, and triple-tube PL lamps — contains a small amount of mercury, a toxic metal that complicates disposal and poses environmental risk if lamps break or end up in landfills. With efficient, mercury-free LED replacements now available for essentially every PL lamp, lawmakers have moved to end fluorescent sales rather than keep mercury circulating.

Which Lamps and States

State bans are typically phased: screw-base CFLs first, then pin-base CFLs (the PL family) and linear fluorescent tubes. States with enacted restrictions include California, Vermont, Colorado, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Hawaii, Maine, and Illinois, with Oregon, Washington, and others adopting or considering similar measures. Pin-base CFL (PL) restrictions are generally taking effect across 2025–2027 depending on the state.

Importantly, these laws restrict the sale of new fluorescent lamps; they generally don't ban using lamps you already own. Many also include exemptions for specialty, medical, and industrial applications. Specifics differ by state and change over time.

What It Means for Your Fixtures

Your existing PL fixtures don't need to be thrown out — they need a different lamp. As fluorescent PL stock dries up, LED PL lamps drop into the same G23, GX23, G24d, G24q, and GX24q sockets, using 50–60% less energy, lasting ~50,000 hours, and turning on instantly with no flicker or warm-up.

The Replacement Is Simple

For most fixtures you have two options:

• Type A (ballast-compatible): plug the LED PL straight into the existing socket — no rewiring.
• Type B (ballast-bypass): rewire the socket to line voltage and remove the ballast for maximum efficiency and no future ballast failures.

See our Type A vs Type B guide to choose, and our PL base guide to identify your lamp.

Recycle Responsibly

Because PL/CFL lamps contain mercury, recycle them at a hazardous-waste or lamp-recycling drop-off rather than the trash. If a lamp breaks, ventilate the area and follow EPA cleanup guidance (don't vacuum, which spreads vapor).

Get Ahead of the Phase-Out

Switching now means you stop hunting for discontinued fluorescent lamps and start saving on energy immediately. Browse the LED PL Lamps collection — organized by base, wattage, lumens, color, and type — to find the exact replacement for your twin, quad, or triple-tube CFL. We've been helping customers find the right lamp since 1992 and we're glad to match yours.