County Expands Recycling Of Special Light Bulbs

Monday, August 18, 2008

Baltimore County officials today are announcing that the county is

expanding its recycling of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), 

the energy efficient bulbs that some officials believe are better for 

the environment.

Until now, the light bulbs were only collected at the county's Eastern

Sanitary Landfill and Waste Management Facility in White Marsh.

Starting today, the bulbs will also be collected for recycling at county

 solid waste facilities in Halethorpe and Cockeysville.

The expanded recycling will also include regular fluorescent bulbs,

mercury thermometers and thermostats, and lead-acid and 

rechargeable batteries.

David Carroll, Baltimore County's Director of Sustainability told WBAL

News residents should not throw out CFL's with their regular

trash because they contain small amounts of mercury, 

which are harmful to the environment.

The county has signed a contract with a recycling company to take the bulbs. 

He adds the bulbs will not likely be added to regular household recycling 

collections because the bulbs last five to ten years, and adding them 

to the regular household collections would "not be cost effective."

The White Marsh facility is located off the 11400-block of Pulaski Highway. 

The Cockeysville facility is located off Warren Road, between Beaver Dam

Road and York Road.  The Halethorpe facility is located at 3310 Transway

Road, off the 4500 block of Hollins Ferry Road.