Last week the New York Times had an article in the business section about the Home Depot CFL Recycling Program. Home Depot Senior Vice President for Environmental Innovation, Ron Jarvis, said “We’re trying to do the right thing. Some of the things that we do are for the community and not for the bottom line.” I think in the end it will also help their bottom line as people buy replacement bulbs when they drop off the old ones for recycling. I think it is a smart move for Home Depot to put itself at the forefront of the green movement. Hopefully other large retailers will follow in their footsteps.

With many households switching to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, Home Depot saw a need to provide an easy and accessible recycling program. CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and should not be improperly disposed of. Currently only about 2% of bulbs are being recycled, but Home Depot has set out to change that. It is estimated that 75% of American househoulds are within 10 miles of a Home Depot store. Home Depot will accept all brands of CFL bulbs for recycling.

Read the full New York Times article here.