Congratulations – you've decided to spring for those efficient, long-lasting compact fluorescent light bulbs. Trouble is, the bulbs contain tiny bits of mercury, a hazardous material that sometimes requires special disposal. So what to do when the corkscrew-shaped bulbs finally go out? Waste Management Inc. introduced a CFL recycling kit. For $14.95, a green consumer gets a box that will hold 15 10-watt bulbs, with postage to the company's recycling plant in Minnesota. The Houston trash collection company also offers battery recycling kits at its Web site. Waste Management spokesman Wes Muir said the company expects consumers will like the convenience of the program since there's no financial incentive to recycle the bulbs and batteries. But for Waste Management, the financial incentive is great. The price the company charges for the kits pays for the postage and recycling, so Waste Management can sell the recyclable materials it receives for pure profit.
