February 22, 2007

EPA: Wal-Mart, Other Retailers Need to Step Up CFL Recycling Initiatives

Bookmark and Share Email this story Print this post Add your comments

The Environmental Protection Agency and some large businesses, including Wal-Mart, are aggressively promoting the sale of compact fluorescent light bulbs. The move is gaining momentum. Recently, California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine introduced legislation to make his state the first to ban incandescent lightbulbs. Earlier this week, Australia announced it would phase out incandescents and yesterday, Greenpeace asked India to follow Australia’s lead. 

In the wake of bad-incandescent-good-CFL exuberance, people are beginning to point out that CFLs contain mercury, a neurotoxin, and that manufacturers, retailers, and the government haven’t come up with effective ways to get Americans to recycle them, NPR reports.

There’s been little government action on this and the EPA says the agency has been urging stores that sell the bulbs to help recycle them, but most don’t.

Wal-Mart, which has set a goal of selling 100 million CFLs by 2008, has been slow to answer the EPA’s call. “We are working with Wal-Mart on it, we are making some progress. But no commitments have been made on the part of Wal-Mart,” says Wendy Reed, who manages EPA’s Energy Star program.

But Wal-Mart says it is actively looking for a solution. “Despite a growing interest in CFLs nationwide, there are still barriers to adoption in this country, including end of life issues,” says Andy Ruben, Vice President of Corporate Strategy/Sustainability for Wal-Mart. “Wal-Mart is actively working with partners such as the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste to find mercury and recycling solutions. We look forward to a continued partnership that leads to real answers.”

“The only retailer that I know of that is recycling is IKEA,” says Reed.

Bookmark and Share Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Join the Discussion

Get EL Daily in your inbox, subscribe to free newsletter

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

  • 02/09/2010
  • 02/08/2010
  • 02/05/2010

Recent Jobs

Post a Job
Jobs powered by Simply Hired

Comments and Discussions

John Bergdoll on Accidental to Purposeful Sustainability: Using What You Already Have to Grow Sustainability
"I was following the logic your article..."

Liz Amason on Clorox Comes Clean With Chemical Content on Web Site
"But look at their ingredients listings. For example, their regular liquid bleach..."

Rigidflexibility on Companies Going Green Should Ignore Green Consumer
"I was about to market a metal working fluid that is 98>% Soybean oil and..."

Stuart on Canadian Environment Minister Denounces Quebec Vehicle Emissions Regs
"Canadians have been waiting for the feds to act on climate change for..."

Steve Wolford on Sports Teams Embrace Sustainability
"Hello Environmental Leader, We just returned from the National Sport Forum in Baltimore. Team and..."

Mauibrad on Bipartisan Senatorial Effort Seeks Cap and Trade for non-CO2 Emissions
"Finally some enlightened ideas out of Congress!"

Cameron Green on Data Centers Can Apply for Energy Star Rating in June
"I did a blog post about this. Essentially PUE doesn’t give you very much..."