[time4another]

I have 2 burnt out mercury containing flourescent light bulbs. Asked the guy who works at my landfill what I was supposed to do with them due to the mercury in them. He told me that they don't recycle them and he doesn't know when and if they will or where there is a place to recycle them.

Told me to put them in a plastic bag and break 'em and toss them in with the trash: in the landfill.

The landfill is in my town. I am not a fan of contaminating my town with mercury, and I think that this will be a big issue with everyone switching to the newer light bulbs.

Do you all have any ideas on what to do with these things?????

Heather

 

[MisaGoat]

I think some stores take them back.

I think Ikea does, but I would have to check.

ETA:http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/about_i...vironment.html

I don't know if there is one near you or not.

 

[philomom]

Yep, my dh refuse to buy them... because they are so hard to deal with if they break.

 

[Carlin]

Find a store that will take them back, as a short term solution, then start pressuring your municipality to step up to the plate and start a recycling program. At the very least, the people working at the landfill should be able to provide correct information on disposal. This is not a reason to switch back to energy sucking incandescent bulbs, but it is a good reason to start getting involved, and lobby your town to do the right thing!

 

[MisaGoat]

http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/wastet...lamps/live.htm

This has a map of the US and should direct you to disposal in your area. For my area I need to bring the light bulbs in during the "Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days". The same days you can bring in old paint and batteries.

 

[changingseasons]

What?! We're not allowed to put fluorescent bulbs into the trash here; they have to be disposed of at a hazardous waste or recycling facility. (Although I agree that is a total pita and probably not many people are actually following that rule.)

 

[time4another]

I think I'll call the BOH and ask when the hazardous collection day is. Our town is *not* listed and since we are a landfill, we should have some plan about this!

In the meantime I may ask DH to bring them to work to recycle them there.

Heather

 

[PGTlatte]

Home Depot recycles them.

 

[time4another]

Yeah, I just read that! Its irresponsible for the landfill man to tell residents that, I think I may have to inform him tomorrow. It shouldn't take this much digging to find out how not to contaminate our water and soil...

:

 

[cristeen]

Batteries and CFLs both go to Hazardous waste disposal here, too.