How to Properly Dispose CFL Light Bulbs

If you are doing your part and making the necessary changes in your life to be more eco-friendly, your responsibility doesn't stop once you replace your energy-munching incandescent lights with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. In fact, all of your efforts to go green can be for naught if you haphazardly toss out your old CFL bulbs in the trash. Why? Because CFL bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, which needs to be disposed of properly in order to protect the environment. Here are a few tips on how to properly dispose of your CFL light bulbs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Contact your local garbage service and ask them if they have a CFL recycling program already in effect. If you discover that they do not, write a letter to your local municipality and ask that they implement one. Get everyone you know on the bandwagon and have everyone submit letters. If need be, gather up the troops and attend a monthly board meeting to shed some "light" on the topic.

2. If your township has separate contractors for trash and recycling pickup, find out what company is responsible for the recycling and call them to see if they have a CFL or Mercury recycle program in effect.

3. Many retailers are now making it possible for you to bring your old CFLs back to the store for recycling. Ikea was one of the first to offer such a service and now Home Depot and Lowes are also on board. If you discover that your local retail giant doesn't offer the service, call their headquarters and ask that they do.

4. Take your search online. There are many commercial services that offer safe and effective recycling of your old CFL light bulbs. Some are more expensive than others, so it pays to look around.

5. Of course, your fail-safe solution is to store the bulbs yourself in a tightly closed container in the corner of your basement. The bulbs don't take up much room and you can fit a dozen or so in a large bucket or sturdy box. Because CFLs last so much longer than traditional bulbs, you don't have to worry about collecting a huge number of old bulbs.

6. Going green is important to the health of our planet and to our future survival, but remember, your responsibility doesn't end when you purchase the eco-friendly products. Have a recycling plan and stick to it and maybe we can turn this ship around!

Resources

• Recycle Your CFL Bulbs

[nomaqq]

on 8/25/2009 Do not dispose burnt CFL. They can be re used. see http://makelifeeasy.yolasite.com/

[jerryb1]

on 5/16/2009 Thanks, Dave: You've given me a few other places where I can dispose of worn CFL bulbs. Like most folks, I do my best to find recycle locations that are cost free.