For immediate release
May 29, 2015
Contact: Kris Hall
Phone: (309) 454-3169 x.12
The Ecology Action Center is shutting down a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) recycling program that has successfully reclaimed an estimated 110,266 milligrams of mercury and prevented its release into our environment. This program was launched in 2008 due to the absence of convenient recycling options for the CFLs which were rapidly increasing in use at that time. Small grants from the McLean County Solid Waste Fund funded the costs of proper recycling of the CFLs. The McLean County CFL Recycling program with drop-offs at the Town of Normal Facilities Management Building, City of Bloomington Waste Yard, and Springfield Electric, will cease collecting CFLs as of June 1, 2015. This public funded program is no longer necessary due to establishment of other local drop off locations for CFL recycling in Bloomington-Normal including Home Depot, Menards, Lowe’s and Batteries Plus Bulbs.
CFLs contain mercury which is a potent neurotoxin. Individually, the bulbs contain 4 mg or less of mercury and are safe for general usage in homes and businesses. However, when CFLs are improperly thrown in the trash, the cumulative impact can be significant, with thousands of grams of mercury being released into our environment and bio-accumulating up the food chain into our food supplies.
More information on proper disposal of other types of household hazardous waste is available by contacting the EAC or by going to HHWmclean.org.
