Relight your tree: incandescent bulbs on their way out

Goodbye inefficient incandescent Christmas light bulbs, hello CFLs.

That's what Congress said when they passed a law outlawing the sale of plain ol' light bulbs - at least the inefficient kind - as of 2012.

Says the New York Times:

And so far, consumers have been slow to give new products a chance. Compact fluorescents, for example, are already ubiquitous in stores. Many retailers, led by Wal-Mart, have promoted the economics of the bulbs — though compact fluorescents generally cost six times what incandescents do, they last six times as long and use far less energy.

The change was inevitable, given that your everyday lightbulb casts off most of its energy in the form of heat, not light. Compact fluorescents still contain mercury, however, and need to be handled with care. Recycling Jackson is working on an easy way for Jackson resident to dispose of their CFLs.

The future? LEDs, says the article, but right now they're just too expensive for casual use.

Exciting news in plastics.

Northwest Refuse sent us some exciting news, via our former president Travis Fojtasek. They are now accepting dry cleaner bags, bubble wrap, and black plastic garden and nursery pots.

Hurray!

Travis also told us that, when you recyle plastic bottles, you can keep the screw-top lid on. Northwest will accept those from now on, too.

The list of acceptable plastics keeps growing!

2008 site open dates.

It's official: we're open in 2008.

Half-time, that is.

Below, you'll find our Monroe St. drop-off site open dates. You can drop off your materials from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• January 5, 19


• February 2, 16


• March 1, 15


• April 5, 19


• May 3, 17


• June 7, 21


• July 5, 19


• August 2, 16


• September 6, 20


• October 4, 18


• November 1, 15


• December 6, 20

Be sure to register as a member of Recycling Jackson to do all your recycling at our site for free.

We're hiring: education and outreach coordinator

How would you like to work for Recycling Jackson?

We're seeking an education and outreach coordinator. It's a part-time position to implement and maintain a multi-age outreach and educational program on solid waste management. Nobody but organized, independent, flexible self-starters should apply. And we'd love to have someone with teaching/classroom experience.

Please send your cover letter, references and resume by December 19 to recyclingjackson[at]yahoo.com, or to:

Recycling Jackson
PO Box 426
Jackson, MI 49204

And since I hated in when companies didn't give me a name to address my cover letter to, you can send yours attn: President Steve Noble.

He likes it when you call him "President Steve."

HolidayLEDs.com offers light bulb recycling.

HolidayLEDs.com, a local retailer for LED Christmas lights, is accepting incandescent Christmas lights for recycling.

Says HolidayLEDs.com:

All lights submitted for recycling must be mailed to HolidayLEDs.com, postage paid, and post-marked no later than December 20, 2007...The first 100 participants (which shall be determined by the date the packaged is post-marked) will receive one free set of LED Christmas lights. The second 100 participants (which shall be determined by the date the packaged is post-marked) will receive a 10% coupon for any purchase at HolidayLEDs.com.

When you send your lights, you have to include your name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address.

Send your lights to:

HolidayLEDs.com

Attn: Recycling Program

120 W. Michigan Ave., Suite 1403

Jackson, MI 49201

If you don't have any lights to recycle, you can also participate in the Ugliest Christmas Lights Contest.