Here's a Bright Idea: Retailers, local governments and utilities kick off six-month fluorescent light bulb recycling program

Residents of King, Kitsap, Snohomish and Thurston Counties can recycle their fluorescent light bulbs at 67 local retail outlets through July 18, 2005.

Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) help save electricity and are safe to use in your home, but they contain a small amount of mercury-- so they must be properly recycled, rather than thrown in the garbage. This regional program campaign makes fluorescent light recycling more convenient for consumers.

Participating retailers in King County include all Bartell Drug stores and Seattle Lighting stores, Greenwood True Value Hardware, Sammamish Ace Hardware, Junction True Value Hardware and Stephenson Ace Hardware (some retailers do not accept fluorescent tubes for recycling; please call your local store for details). There is a small fee for the recycling service, ranging from a flat 50-cent charge per bulb or straight tube to $.07 per foot for straight tubes. In return, participants receive four 50-cent discount coupons for their next purchase of new compact fluorescent light bulbs.

A complete list of participating retailers is located at www.productstewardship.net.

"Many residents know that fluorescent lights conserve energy, but not everyone knows they contain small amounts of mercury and should be recycled," said Jeff Gaisford, Recycling and Environmental Services Manager for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Solid Waste Division. "This regional program makes it easy to do."

Gaisford made his remarks at a January 27 media kick off event for the fluorescent recycling program held at Ecolights Northwest, the fluorescent light recycler for this program and the region's major fluorescent lamp recycler.

This recycling campaign is sponsored by the Puget Sound Lamp Recycling Coalition. Its members are: Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Kitsap County Solid Waste Division, Snohomish County Human Services, Snohomish County PUD, Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division, Thurston County, Ecolights Northwest, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light.

For more information on this fluorescent take-back program, call Lauren Cole at 206-296-4363 or lauren.cole@kingcounty.gov.