Jan 29 2009

Santa Cruz County Starts Taking It Back

Posted by: Jennifer Zerwer

Properly disposing of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) just became easier for residents of Santa Cruz County, Calif. A Take-It-Back Partnership was launched today in collaboration with the County of Santa Cruz, California's Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) and PG&E to facilitate free, convenient CFL recycling at 13 local retailers.

CFLs are a great way to reduce one's energy bill and environmental impact. In fact, they use 67 percent less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. However, CFLs do contain trace amounts of mercury, so proper recycling of these energy-efficient bulbs is vital.

Although you can't toss CFLs in with your curb-side recycling, options are growing for convenient drop-off spots. To increase access, PG&E is doing its part by working with DTSC to support Take-It-Back programs throughout its northern and central California service area. One of the largest national CFL recycling program is offered by Home Depot, with drop-offs at all of its 1,973 locations.

Still, despite the energy savings and environmental benefits, many folks have not joined the CFL bandwagon because they find them unappealing. According to Michael Siminovitch, a professor and director of the California Lighting Technology Center at the University of California, Davis, "many manufacturers have been cutting corners and putting C.F.L.s of lesser quality on the market, skewing consumers' perception of the technology."

Even so, the future of energy efficient lighting is bright. Continuing advances in LED technology will ensure a wider breadth of options to meet lighting needs.

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