Compact fluorescent light bulbs are energy-efficient and last a long time, but what’s the best way to deal with them when they burn out?

Recycle them, of course.

CFLs contain a trace amount of mercury – about the size of the period at the end of this sentence – but having large numbers of these bulbs go into landfills could present a concern for the environment. That’s why it’s important they be recycled properly.

Whether you have a bulb that has finally burned out, or want to replace CFLs with new LED bulbs, we recommend you close the loop and recycle your spent CFLs. The great news is that it’s not only easy, but free.

We’ve joined with retailers throughout our service territory to make it as convenient as possible for you to recycle your old CFL bulbs.

Large retailers that you already probably visit – like The Home Depot and Lowe’s – as well as a number of independent retailers, collect CFLs for free from their customers and recycle them. Since 2010, more than 5,300 CFLs have been recycled through this program.

This year, the CFL recycling program will be expanding even further. To stay updated on where you can recycle your CFL bulbs, visit pplelectric.com/lighting and click the “CFL Recycling” icon.