Published: September 09, 2009 09:06 pm      

Better idea

Recycle, don’t junk fluorescent

Nearly every home these days has a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL).

They reduce energy use, which in turn benefits air and water quality and helps to ease climate change.

Now, Garrett County has launched a new recycling program to accept the bulbs.

CFL bulbs contain up to 5 milligrams of mercury, the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen, as compared to older home thermostats and mercury fever thermometers, which contain between 500 to 30,000 milligrams of mercury.

While CFL bulbs and lamps can be disposed of in a landfill, it is preferable to see them recycled.

Kimberly Madigan, recycling coordinator in Garrett County, said non-PCB ballasts can be identified by their label. If the ballast does not have a “No PCBs” label, it is assumed that the ballast does contain PCB and therefore cannot be accepted in the county’s recycling program.

Fluorescent bulbs, lamps and non-PCB ballasts may be taken to the landfill location at 3118 Oakland Sang Run Road, Oakland, for recycling. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The landfill will accept compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), U-tubes, 4-foot lamps, 8-foot lamps and non-PCB ballasts. A refuse sticker is not required to participate in the free recycling programs offered to Garrett County residents.

Garrett County businesses are permitted to bring compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), fluorescent lamps (only those manufactured with green colored ends) and non-PCB ballasts to the landfill for disposal by paying a commercial waste tipping fee of $35 per ton.

A list of independent contractors who accept fluorescent bulbs, lamps and ballasts from commercial sites for recycling is available at the Garrett County Solid Waste & Recycling Division office or in the recycling directory at www.mdrecycles.org.

For additional information, contact Madigan at (301) 387-0322 or visit www.garrettcounty.org