We are happy to report that you can now bring your light bulbs to the REAL Deal for recycling.   Productcare Recycling  is expanding its program in Ontario, and we couldn’t resist their offer.  You can bring us pretty much any type of lightbulb.  Once we have collected several boxes worth, we arrange for pickup free of charge to us, and the bulbs are delivered to  their centres for recycling.  REAL will earn a small amount per bulb collected.  We have been on the lookout for other “hard to recycle” materials we could collect, so this fits the bill nicely.   

Please deposit your bulbs in the blue bin near the customer entrance.  This is the same location where people are depositing their batteries, print and toner cartridges, milk bags and writing instruments.  If you have fluorescent tubes, please bring them to our attention and we will store somewhere else until pickup time.  We will have a smaller container for crayons and glue sticks now.

The Ontario Lights Recycling Program accepts end of life CFLs, LEDs, fluorescent tubs, incandescent, halogen, miniature bulbs, UV and germicidal bulbs, projector lamps and special purpose bulbs.   We cannot take smoke alarms, ballasts or streetlights.  String lights are not accepted in this program, but we will still take them in our ewaste.  And do not put light fixtures in the lightbulb bin.  Our staff will separate them into cords, fixtures , shades  and bulbs and deal with them appropriately.  

The REAL Deal will continue to offer free lightbulbs in the dome.  Generally these are packaged bulbs so you will know exactly what type and intensity you are getting.  Unmarked bulbs will probably end up in bulb recycling.