Safe CFL recycling
By: LMP Editorial Team - November 6th, 2007
This year, Home Depot will sell some seven million compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to Canadians, proving just how popular this household item has become. But there’s always been the pesky question of recycling the bulbs, which contain small amounts of mercury. To deal with the disposal issue, the giant retailer is launching a free instore bulb recycling program at all 160 of its locations across the country. As of Nov. 22, Canadians can bring in their used CFLs to any Home Depot, where they’ll find a CFL recycling unit located at the entrance by the special services desk. There, shoppers can place the expired CFLs in a plastic bags provided by HD and deposit it a bin. When the bin is full, the contents are sent to Fluorescent Lamp Recyclers Inc., in Ayr, Ont. IKEA Canada has been recycling CFLs and used batteries through its “Free Take Back” program since 2001.The programs are directed at the 98% of Canadians who, according to a recent poll conducted by Angus Reid for IKEA Canada, do not recycle their CFLs.