FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date

CONTACT

Mark W. Salley
Communications Director
303-692-2013

Entities Team Up for Compact Fluorescent Light Recycling
Recycle bins available at all 104 Colorado Ace HARDWARE stores*

DENVER - Coloradans now can drop-off their used compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and mercury-containing thermostats for recycling at any Ace HARDWARE store in the state. The recycling program is a collaborative effort of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Xcel Energy, EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., Platte River Power Authority and Ace HARDWARE Stores in Colorado.

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than typical incandescent light bulbs. However, CFLs contain small amounts of mercury and must be recycled appropriately. ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostats help save energy when used properly and are mercury free. However, manual thermostats contain mercury and must be recycled.

Bins are in place behind the counters of the 104 Colorado Ace HARDWARE stores so residents can recycle their used CFLs and thermostats. To prevent breakage, store employees will take bulbs and thermostats from residents and place them into the bins. When the bins are full, a store employee will ship them to be recycled. The entire CFL bin will be recycled - contents and container included - ensuring no mercury will escape.

“It's important to support consumers making smart energy choices, and the recycling program is a great way to do that," Gov. Bill Ritter said. "Anything that makes it easier for people to improve efficiency will make a difference for the environment and our energy needs.”

Jim Martin, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said, “The department is excited to have such great partners that will make it possible for people throughout Colorado to easily recycle used compact fluorescent light bulbs and mercury containing thermostats. We always have encouraged the use of energy-efficient lighting and now that they have become widely used, we are making it convenient for people to recycle their used bulbs.”

The bulb-recycling program is for CFLs only, not fluorescent tubes, and is intended for residential use, not for businesses or the commercial industry.

Energy users who replace one incandescent bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL can reduce their energy bills by up to $30 over the life of each 60-watt equivalent bulb and protect the environment. The department estimates that each CFL reduces the Colorado region's carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 180 pounds each year and 1,270 pounds over its lifetime, compared to the use of a 75-watt incandescent bulb (based on Energy Information Administration 1605(b) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases, assuming operation hours, regional emissions factor and a lifetime of seven years).

Used CFLs and mercury-containing thermostats should not be disposed of in household trash receptacles. If a CFL or thermostat breaks, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has advice at: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/mercury/index.htm.

Ace HARDWARE Locations in Colorado

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