Bartells offers CFL recycling program

SEATTLE Bartell Drugs on Monday announced a partnership with Total Reclaim, a locally-owned, Seattle-based recycling firm, and its EcoLights division on providing free recycling of CFL (compact fluorescent) light bulbs to Bartell Drugs customers.

“We are one of the leading CFL retailers in the Puget Sound area,” stated Geroge Bartell, chairman and chief executive officer of Bartell Drugs. “This is an easy and convenient way for our customers to close the purchase-to-disposal loop in an environmentally safe way.”

Bartell’s customers can bring CFL bulbs to any store location for environmentally-friendly recycling of the bulbs, the 56-store retailer stated.

According to Bartell, CFL bulbs all contain small amounts of potentially harmful mercury and safe disposal of the bulbs keeps mercury out of landfills. Bartell’s will accept mini-twists, flood, globe, 3-way bulbs and other CFL bulbs. Fluorescent tube lights are not accepted at this time, the drug retailer stated.

With the launch of the introductory program, Bartell’s is a member of the Take It Back Network, a group of retailers, repair shops, non-profit organizations, waste haulers and recyclers that offer convenient options for recycling certain products that should not be disposed of in the trash.

Bartell Drugs has been recognized for its role in supporting local energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. The drug store chain has been selected to receive one of Seattle City Light’s 2008 Power Player Awards and was the utility’s first retail partner in the Twist and Save program—achieving sales of one million CFL bulbs in only 12 months.