Recycling CFL Bulbs

CFL Bulbs Accepted at Various Ace Hardware Stores
by Ashley Schiller on May 16th, 2008

Consumers in Great Falls, Montana were getting burned out looking for a place to recycle their CFL bulbs until Ace Hardware stores began accepting them this month. The Environmental Protection Agency, Montana Department of Environmental Quality and local utilities are funding the program, according to an article in the Great Falls Tribune.

Various stores in Montana, Utah and South Dakota are taking part in the project. Ace Hardware stores are individually owned and not all stores accept CFL bulbs, but the trend is spreading. Stores in many states, including Colorado, Arizona and Illinois, will take them.

CFL bulbs should not be simply tossed in the trash because they contain a small amount of mercury, which endangers waste workers and the environment. If you want to recycle a broken bulb, seal it in a zip-lock bag.

To find where you can recycle CFL bulbs in your area, use Earth 911’s Recycling Locator.