Recycle your CFLs at 'g'

"What do I do with these?!"

In the name of Clean Energy Week, we don't want any of you to have reason not to change all of your incandescent (standard) lightbulbs to the energy saving Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs), which use 75% less energy (!) than their incandescent counterparts. One question that is often raised with customers when considering purchasing CFLs is "don't these have mercury in them?"

The answer is "yes." However, we at 'g' want to put your mind at ease. Just as there are procedures for recycling batteries, and paint, and other mercuric items, there is a process to recycling CFLs. As they are made much more widely available, the public does need to be educated on what to do with them, and we're here to help.

Similar to batteries and other items mentioned above, there are designated sites in all communities will collect and properly recycle CFL bulbs. It also just so happens that your local 'g' showroom is a collection center for the bulbs. All you need to do is bring in expired bulbs, and we'll properly dispose of them. While you're at it, we also collect other mercury-containing items, and cell phones and cell phone batteries. And, for the days when you can't make it to a 'g' showroom or don't have one close by, most transfer stations and other hazardous material collections will accept them, too.

When you know how to properly dispose of hazardous items, the thought of using them is hopefully less intimidating. Help us educate on proper disposal, and stop in to 'g' today with your CFLs and cell batteries!