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Home Depot to offer CFL recycling

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One of the peskiest problems of compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) is where to dispose of them when they break or burn out, due to the small amounts of mercury that they contain.

Well, here's some good news on that front! Home Depot is announcing today that it will begin taking back old CFLs in all 1,973 of its U.S. stores. This will be the most widespread recycling program for the bulbs to date. Home Depot will accept any maker's bulbs and due to its spread across the country, this move will bring CFL recycling within reach of most homes. Home Depot estimates that 75% of the nation's home are within 10 miles of a store.

Kudos to Home Depot for doing this.

by Patricia Mayville-Cox

http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/24/home-depot-to-offe...



I think this is great!
shroomfairy

7 responses // Home Depot to offer CFL recycling

  • Encouraging to see large corporations beginning to get on board with conserving! Thanks Shroom.
    Chique
  • It's about time-

    The scary thing is that most people don't even know that they contain mercury.

    It's OK that they do, IF they are recycled. Otherwise, if they are thrown into the trash (which the package warns NOTHING about) that mercury seeps into the water table and into YOU.

    Before they sold the first bulb, warnings on the packaging should have been mandatory (in every major language).

    I really hope people learn about this and RECYCLE THEM SAFELY!
    onechance
  • Have you seen the safety procedures for what to do if one of these breaks in your home? (includes evacuating your house!) You might as well call in the guys in bio-suits! These things are dangerous...and the light they provide is TERRIBLE! We tried them in our home and it was like going back to living my candlelight. We won't switch to these until and unless someone makes us (and how would they enforce that anyway? The lightbulb police?)
    barkway
  • No, they won't have to enforce it, they will simple STOP selling the regular bulbs. (I think late 2009)

    I agree, they are a bit dangerous, and the lighting is bright, but ehre is good news:

    LED bulbs and other alternatives are getting better and cheaper.

    Keep an eye out.
    onechance
  • http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/ask_treehugger_...
    The first few cfl's I bought were dim too. But...the ones i have bought in the last 6 months are much brighter and come in all shapes and sizes.

    As far as breaking them...they have less mercury that the longs ones that have been used in every office, school, store, etc. since the 1930's. No one is fearful of those bulbs.

    More info in the link I posted.
    shroomfairy
  • this seems a bit late

    the mini ace by my house has been doing this for years

    way to keep up home depot...
    donkeyfly69
  • I don't know of any stores in my area doing this so I think this is great.
    shroomfairy

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