Compact Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Now Available at US Home Depot Stores
by Matthew McDermott, Brooklyn, NY on 06.24.08
The Home Depot has expanded the recycling program for compact fluorescent light bulbs begun last November in its Canadian stores to in 1900-odd stores in the United States. Customers can bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulb the store’s returns desk. “The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.”
"The CFL recycling program is another example of how The Home Depot is empowering customers to help make a difference in their own homes, and have less of an impact on the environment," said Ron Jarvis, senior vice president, Environmental Innovation. "With more than 75 percent of households located within 10 miles of a Home Depot store, this program is the first national solution to providing Americans with a convenient way to recycle CFLs."
At the same time, The Home Depot announced that by Fall 2008 light fixture showrooms in its US stores will be switched from incandescent bulbs to CFLs. The measure will save the company $16 million annually in energy costs.
UPDATE FROM HOME DEPOT
Some readers wondered if this program covered all fluorescents or just CFLs—the program is only for CFLs. Also, the program does indeed start today. If your local store doesn't yet know about the program, they should very shortly.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
BBC on Safe Disposal of CFLs
Mercury and CFLs: Stop Whining and Recycle
Green Basics: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
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Do they also accept regular fluorescent bulbs as well? Because fluorescent bulbs (known as tubelight in this part of the world) contain Mercury in greater quantity than CFLs and I suppose Home Depot sells those too.
But I'd suspect the program does not cover fluorescents because there's no awareness in the general public about the Mercury issue in fluorescents.
I blame the media for unnecessarily creating the CFL Mercury scare. We've had fluorescents for decades and no one ever got worried about them.
I would assume that florescent tube lighting would be accepted as well, the recycling process would not change that much. I assume that the program is referred to as a CFL recycling program because there is more consumer awareness and use of CFL bulbs. The majority of tube lighting is used in office/business buildings.
This is really great. The last time I was home from college I spent over an hour explaining to my parents that it was illegal and dangerous to put cfl's and other mercury-containing lights in the garbage and curbside recycling. I my town we are supposed to bring them directly to the recycling center (which isn't far away). Nonetheless, i am sure almost in the town no one actually follows the rules, and telling people "Just bring it to Home Depot" is a heck of a lot simpler than educating everyone about where the recycling center is (or that it even exists), when it is open (which is during the hours most people are working), and why they should care.
This sounds great, but, are we sure the Home Depot (or the company H D has hired) is going to implement responsible techniques of recycling these used bulbs? Let's hope this isn't a huge P.R. stunt and the bulbs are really being shipped to a third world country whose citizens have millions of mercury time bombs to dispose of. I'm not a pessimist, I'm just cautious. I don't want to be greenwashed by flashy corporate initiatives.
I just called the Home Depot in my city and they have not started the program, yet.
Is it a pilot program right now? Does anyone know?
I've got an email into Home Depot to try to clarify some of the questions commenters have raised. I'll post an update when I find out more.
Wow...75 percent within 10 miles?
That's kind of sad.
In any case, I know where my mom and I can to recycle our CFLs. I'm just hoping she didn't throw them away already.
Awesome! I love Home Depot. Great to see their making great leaps into being green, compared to Lowe's.
Julian said: "I would assume that florescent tube lighting would be accepted as well"
Julian, Matt just checked with them it's for CFL's only as I suspected.
Just checked their site, they do offer florescent tubes.
Matt, you should ask Home Depot why do they consider Mercury in CFLs dangerous and Mercury in florescent tubes acceptable?
Here's an example of a case of Mercury poisioning from florescent tubes long before CFL's were around:
In Minnesota, we are able to go to our local hardware stores - the Mom and Pop style - and recycle our CFLs for free. In addition, the local hardware stores are able to accept ALL TYPES of fluorescent lamps (rounds, 4', 8', U bends, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, etc). Many of our local utilities also offer coupons for $0.50 off the cost of recycling.
Here is a list of the hardware stores that are in the program:
http://www.mercurytechnologies-mn.com/Participating%20Retailers.pdf
Here are links to three of the utilities that offer the FREE CFL recycling and have the $0.50 coupons online
Xcel Energy
http://xcelenergy.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/docs/BulbRecyclingCoupons.pdf
East Central Energy
http://eastcentralenergy.com/DAM_public/1238.pdf
Minnesota Power
http://www.mnpower.com/powerofone/one_home/energystar/lighting/RecycleBulbs08.pdf
Hope this helps everyone out. Happy treehugging!
In San Diego County, the closest recycling center is 30 miles away. How much gas will I use to properly dispose of two florenscent 48 inch bulbs. If they want us to recycle, they have to make it convinient.