Free CFL Recycling

That’s right, recycle your used CFLs for free! Focus on Energy has partnered with nearly 400 retailers across the state to offer free CFL recycling to consumers. Just bring your expired, unbroken CFLs to a participating retailer. Stores will ship these bulbs to an environmental management center and recycle them in accordance with environmental regulations.

Local retailers include:

• Walters How-To Store, E4351 Cty Rd K, Algoma
• Walters Do It Best, 521 Fourth St, Algoma

Lamp and Computer Recycling

Several times a year Algoma Utilities coordinates a hazardous and recyclable materials recycling day. Items such as fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, batteries and computer components are disposed of in an efficient and safe manner.

Algoma Utilities customers may bring fluorescent lamps/bulbs, ballasts and computer components (monitors, CPUs and keyboards) to the Algoma Utilities office from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

All bulbs and ballasts must be boxed, closed and taped to secure the materials. Quantities must be written on the outside of the box. Please have the terminals taped on all batteries. Algoma Utilities reserves the right to deny acceptance of any material. Customers will be charged a disposal fee for the materials they bring in to be recycled.

Recycling dates for 2010 are February 17th, May 12th and September 15th.

View the Recycling Costs.

Best Buy Recycling Program

This year, consumers will retire more than two million tons of “tech trash” – old cell phones, rechargeable batteries, ink-jet cartridges and more. The good news is that many of the materials in these items can be recycled or refurbished.

Best Buy is one of the first retailers to provide ways for consumers to dispose of electronics safely and easily, in an environmentally friendly way. All Best Buy stores in the U.S. now accept most consumer electronics, including televisions and monitors up to 32”, computer CPUs and notebook PCs, small electronics, VCRs and DVD players, phones and accessories such as keyboards, mice and remote controls.

In addition, the retailer offers recycling kiosks in the entryway of every store where customers may drop off cell phones, rechargeable batteries, ink-jet cartridges, gift cards, CDs, DVDs, PDAs and smart phones free of charge.

In 2008, customers recycled more than 19,000 tons of electronics through Best Buy. Visit Best Buy for more information.

Source: Focus on Energy’s ENERGY STAR Extra