Green Lights initiative raises awareness on lightbulb recycling

Millions and millions of lightbulbs end up in the landfill each year, including fluorescent lights, which contain small amounts of mercury.

LEDtronics, Torrance, California, has launched a 60-day initiative to help raise awareness on how citizens and companies can properly recycle lightbulbs. The Green Lights initiative is aimed to educate the public about lighting recycling through social media and other media platforms. LEDtronics has also partnered with Keep America Beautiful (KAB) to raise awareness through an online petition, which has gained 46 signatures from new and longtime supports of proper lighting disposal since the launch Aug. 20.

“‘When my lightbulbs burn out, where do I put them?’ Being in the lighting business for nearly 40 years, we get that question a lot,” says Shaan Lodhie, LEDtronics’ chief operating officer. “Our company makes only LEDs, which are safe to dispose of in trash bins because they contain no hazardous chemicals, but that’s not necessarily the right option for environmental, safety and other reasons.”

Materials being shared through the Green Lights initiative include a “how to” on proper disposal and recycling of the most common types of lightbulbs. The company says locating a home improvement store with a take-back program or a local recycling center that accepts bulbs is the best option. While LEDs are safe to dispose of in waste bins due to the absence of toxic chemicals, recycling them is “the best option” from a safety and environmental perspective, especially because the bulbs contain reusable elements.

At the end of the campaign, LEDtronics will also make a donation to KAB to help the nonprofit with its mission to “inspire and educate people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment.” The donation will fall on Nov. 15, which is America Recycles Day.