RONA plans Canada-wide CFL recycling

Boucherville, Quebec-based DIY retailer RONA plans a program to collect and recycle compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) across Canada at RONA, Reno-Depot, Totem and Chester Dawe stores.

The retailer said consumers will be able to take their used CFLs to those store locations, where the bulbs can be collected for “safe recovery.”

“Providing a safe disposal method for compact fluorescent bulbs lets us meet consumer needs, with people increasingly choosing compact fluorescents,” said Pierre Dandoy, RONA’s executive vp-big-box stores.

The retailer noted consumers should follow “certain safety rules” when disposing of compact fluorescents because they contain small quantities of mercury. Consumers will be asked to use a special plastic bag meant to help prevent mercury from the bulbs from leaking.

The used bulbs will then be taken to a recycling facility, where certain components, including the mercury, can be extracted and reused.

RONA currently operates a network of more than 680 corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats.