Media Contact: Karl Walquist, (775) 834-3891

Sierra Pacific Power Company is partnering with Waste Management Inc. to offer Nevada's first recycling program for compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).  Beginning April 1, the utility's residential customers can take their defunct bulbs to one of eight Waste Management facilities in northern Nevada. The service will be free.

Lights collected will be shipped to a Waste Management facility in Minnesota where the metal, plastic and glass used to manufacture the lights will be recycled, along with the trace amounts of mercury that are found in all fluorescent lights. According to the federal government's Energy Star program for energy efficiency, each CFL contains an average of 5 milligrams of mercury, about the amount required to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. 

"Since disposing the lights in landfills isn't the best solution, due mostly to concerns about mercury, this pilot program will give our customers an opportunity to recycle,"said John Hargrove, program manager for energy efficiency and conservation for Sierra Pacific. 

By funding discounts at local stores, Sierra Pacific has distributed more than 1.6 million CFLs in northern Nevada over the past five years as part of the company's effort to encourage energy efficiency, Hargrove said. Since its inception, the program has reduced annual electricity usage by approximately 51.6 million kilowatt hours, he added.

CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer, Hargrove said, adding that they also produce 75 percent less heat and they're available in a variety of shapes and sizes designed to fit almost any fixture.
 
Waste Management will be accepting CFLs for recycling at the following locations:

Waste Management of Nevada 
Market Area Office
100 Vassar Street, Reno
Mon.– Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Refuse Inc. Sage Transfer Station
1390 E. Commercial Row, Reno
Mon.– Sat., 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun., 8 a.m.– 6 p.m.
     
Refuse Inc. Stead Transfer Station
13890 Mt. Anderson, Stead
Mon.– Sun., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Capital Sanitation
5560 Sheep Drive, Carson City
Mon.– Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Incline Sanitation
1076 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village
Mon.– Fri., 8  a.m.– 4:30 p.m.

Lockwood Regional Landfill
2401 Canyon Way, Lockwood
Mon.– Sat., 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Waste Management Recycle America
Greg Street MRF
1455 E. Greg Street, Sparks
Mon.– Fri., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Waste Management Recycle America
Commercial Row MRF
1100 E. Commercial Row, Reno
Mon.– Fri., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.