Pallets and pallets of hazardous waste, electronics like televisions and computers, and fluorescent light bulbs are shipped out for recycling every day by Heritage Environmental Services in Toledo.
"With the changes in the regulations in the bulbs, it's getting to be a bigger and bigger issue in people's minds, not only in industry but also with homeowners," William Cedoz says.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury which can contaminate soil in landfills. According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's website, you should "not throw CFL bulbs away in your household garbage if better disposal options exist."
The problem is: Better options don't exist. Only six sites in the entire state of Ohio will recycle CFL bulbs for consumers. One is Environmental Recycling in Bowling Green. Another is Gross Electric in Toledo.
"I thought it was the right thing to do," says Gross Electric President Laure Gross. "We have a lot of fluorescents in our store. Most of my fixtures now have fluorescent. I'm big in the environment, and I didn't want to be one of those people who's contributing to the landfills."
Gross says her customers bring in CFL bulbs even though they have to pay $0.66 to $1.00 to recycle them. Even more people will have to buy CFL bulbs as the government phases out less efficient kinds of incandescent bulbs next year.
You have a chance this weekend to recycle any CFL bulbs you already have for free. You can bring them, other mercury devices, and unused or expired medications for recycling on Saturday for free. The event runs from 10am to 3pm at the East Toledo Family Center at 1200 Varland in Toledo.
The EPA says it's working with CFL manufacturers and major retailers to expand disposal options. The website also says, if you can find no other disposal option, you may place used CFL bulbs inside two plastic bags and put them into your trash.
Contact the following companies for information about recycling CFL bulbs:
Gross Electric Toledo, Ohio (800) 824-7266
Environmental Recycling Bowling Green, Ohio (800) 284-9107 For more information about Ohio energy regulations, visit the Ohio EPA's website. For more information about Energy Star qualified CFL bulbs, visit energystar.com.
