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Comment from Thanh
Time: May 9, 2008, 10:58 am

FYI - There was some errors made in today’s DNR article about the event. Some of the errors included:
- “Collection Runs from Monday to October” should read “May through October
- “old paint” should read “oil based paint”
- The City will only take fluorescent light bulbs - incandescent bulbs are not hazardous, just less energy efficient

And perhaps most importantly for everyone to know as they mark their calendars, the collection will be the THIRD Saturday of each month except in September.

Comment from Laura
Time: May 9, 2008, 5:56 pm

Are all fluorescent light bulbs tubes? Are the small bulb-like ones less hazardous? I had no idea I was supposed to be separating them out, but then not many have burned out yet…

Comment from Thanh
Time: May 9, 2008, 7:41 pm

All fluorescent lights, tubes and bulbs, contain small amounts of mercury in them. Users of fluorescent lights should be careful not to break spent fluorescent lights. Residents are encouraged to properly recycle/dispose of their spent fluorescent lights, both tubes and bulbs, at their local household hazardous waste collection event. This helps to keep mercury out of landfills and our groundwater, as well as out of the City’s resource recovery facility.

Here’s more information from the US EPA:
“CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 5 milligrams – about the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. It would take 100 CFLs to equal that amount.

Mercury currently is an essential component of CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use. Many manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce mercury used in their fluorescent lighting products. In fact, the average amount of mercury in a CFL is anticipated to drop by the end of 2007 thanks to technology advances and a commitment from members of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to http://www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or http://www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.”

Businesses who generate a certain quantity of spent fluorescent light may be required by law to recycle/properly dispose of their fluorescent lights, as these would be considered “universal wastes”.

I hope this information is helpful.

Comment from Dana
Time: May 16, 2008, 8:06 am

I had a question about the “5 units”. I have been saving my spent batteries in an old salsa jar: is that 1 unit? or 8? (the number of batteries I have in it at this point) Same with my burned out fluorsescent bulbs? I have a ‘bundle’ of them taped together: one unit? or 5?
Just curious, thanks.

Comment from David Troyer
Time: May 16, 2008, 12:45 pm

Dana,

You can recycle household batteries at any time, per the Harrisonburg Recycling Website:

Household Batteries (DRY CELL) -All types, including button size. Place in clear wrapper & put in bin.

Comment from Thanh
Time: June 26, 2008, 7:59 am

FYI - Great news!
“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.
At each The 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.”