Disposing of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL)

These bulbs last a very long time and are becoming more and more popular. As I've written before, a "color temperature" of 2700k to 3000k will simulate the familiar look of an incandescent bulb. You can now get these energy-efficient bulbs usable as floodlights, vanity lights, and other common shapes. Since they have a tiny bit of mercury in the tube, they shouldn't be thrown away in trash destined for the landfill. We don't want to see any toxic chemicals leaching into the groundwater or contaminating the soil. Montgomery County's transfer station at 11601 Frederick Road (on the Pike just south of Shady Grove Road) accepts CFLs in the hazardous waste area. It is open every day, including Sat. and Sun., from 9am to 5pm. If you've never been to the transfer station, it's a great field trip...you can recycle TVs, computers, fabric, mixed paper, scrap metal, leaves, and usable building materials, in addition to disposing of regular trash and hazardous waste.