Norwalk and Darien residents looking to dispose of used compact fluorescent light bulbs, commonly called CFLs, have a variety of options to take advantage of. At a news conference at the Home Depot location on Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk Thursday, state Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia detailed the services available to those in the area.

“Compact fluorescents are highly efficient and an important way for people to lower their energy costs,” said Senator Duff. “However, they do contain very small amounts of mercury, so it’s important that CFL bulbs that have reached the end of their useful life are disposed of correctly. Both Norwalk and Darien offer periodic hazardous waste collection days where residents can drop off their unbroken fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs, but we’re also fortunate to have a very convenient program through Home Depot to recycle our household CFLs.”

“CFL bulbs are an important part of an energy saving plan, and proper disposal of expired bulbs is an important recycling effort,” said Mayor Moccia. “The City of Norwalk participates in this effort during its regular hazardous waste collections. The added convenience of Home Depot’s collection and proper disposal of the bulbs provides an important and responsible service that I encourage area residents to use.”

In 2008, Home Depot began its nationwide, in-store CFL recycling program. The service is free and available in all store locations, and customers are welcome to return any bulb for recycling regardless of where it was originally purchased. The program only accepts CFL bulbs, and does not accept fluorescent tubes.

To recycle, customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken bulbs and give them to the store associate at the returns desk. The bulbs are then managed responsibly by an environmental management company that will coordinate packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.

Norwalk recently held its 2010 Hazardous Waste Collection Day on September 11. Norwalk residents can also participate for free in collection days to be held this Saturday, October 2, in Westport, and on Saturday, October 30, in Wilton. These collection program accept fluorescent tubes as well as CFL bulbs.

connecticutplus.com