The Home Depot now accepts compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs for recycling. The program includes all 1,973 Home Depot locations. This is great news for the growing population of individuals and families converting to energy-saving CFLs, who are concerned about safe handling of spent bulbs.Businesses, defined by the U.S. EPA as “large-quantity generators,” are required by law to contract with licensed recovery facilities to recycle fluorescent bulbs, but recycling opportunities for household “small-quantity generators” have rarely been available. With more than 75% of households located within 10 miles of a Home Depot store, this retail outlet collection system is one of the safestand most convenient ways to ensure proper disposal for any CFL user.
Retailers in other parts of the country have been accepting CFLs, and local residents have had some limited or costly bulb recovery options, but the no-cost, broad-based Home Depot program brings a significant new recycling service to the region. At each Home Depot store, customers can simply bring in expired, unbroken CFL bulbs and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will be responsibly recycled by an environmental management company. Save bulb packages to safely transport spent bulbs to Home Depot!
