Shouldn’t manufacturers recycle CFLs?
Manufacturers are in the business of product development, product manufacturing, and marketing. Recyclers constitute a completely different business sector and operate independently from the manufacturers, although the two groups have collaborated in various ways to promote lamp recycling. Company representatives from the recycling industry are on record in several states vehemently opposing manufacturer involvement in recycling because they don’t wish to compete with CFL manufacturers. Manufacturer-funded recycling systems would be inefficient and duplicative and serve only to increase the cost of energy efficient lighting to consumers. Recycling options are increasing rapidly with limited manufacturer involvement and will continue to do so as markets evolve. Meanwhile the newly enacted Energy Independence and Security Act, signed by President Bush in December 2007, directs US DOE to collaborate with the US EPA to review CFL disposal and recycling issues on a national level and submit
