Published: July 05, 2008 02:35 pm            

A Word About Recycling - July 6, 2008

As you know, fluorescent light bulbs not only use less energy, but also last longer, and thus are cheaper to use in the long run. That is the reason most incandescent light bulbs are on their way out and will be replaced by compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). However, these compact fluorescent light bulbs also fail after a time.

Trouble is, when a compact fluorescent light bulb fails, one should not just throw it in the trash... it contains elements which should not go in the landfill as they will contaminate the environment. Thus an item in the latest Recycling Today e-newsletter caught our attention.

"The Home Depot has launched a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations. There is no cost for the service, and the company notes that it is the first such offering by a retailer in the United States. The Home Depot Canada launched a CFL recycling program in November, 2007."

To take advantage of this service is simple. "At each HD store, customers can bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance."

(We believe following the Home Depot lead, other large businesses will soon also provide such a service, just as you can recycle your old cell phone at a number of places now.)

The same e-newsletter also had an interesting article on recycling other electronic items.

"Zip Express Installation, based in Minneapolis, Minn., has announced the availability of its consumer electronics removal and disposal service. Zip Express provides the only service where technicians remove recyclable electronic items from the customer’s home and take it to a certified recycling location."

We find "Technicians will remove all designated items from inside the home, eliminating the need for customers to carry large items outside. Recyclable items include computers, phones, cameras, PC peripherals, TVs, monitors and amplifiers."

The article mentions, "When handled properly, electronic waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. If not, it’s a major source of toxins and carcinogens."

It is believed this is ".. the first in-home recycling service; the only thing required from the customer is ordering the service online or over the phone."

Although there is a charge for this service, if one has large heavy electronic items which are now obsolete or no longer wanted/needed, it could be well worth the cost.

Till next week, do have a great one...



Gloria and Ollie are local citizens concerned with the environment and helping others. Ollie is a graduate of Leadership San Marcos and they both received higher education at TxState University and worked on staff before retiring. For questions or comments, please call them at (512) 353-7432 or e-mail them to omaier@TxState.edu

        

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