The fluorescent light bulb recycling program will be carried out under an enforcement agreement between the City of Yonkers and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Under the program, Yonkers will collect and recycle the spent fluorescent bulbs from city residents to reduce the release of mercury to the environment.
Agency regulations require that spent mercury and other toxic metal-containing bulbs from business, industry and government be handled as hazardous waste, which means they must be disposed of in specially licensed facilities.
As an alternative, they can be handled under simpler universal waste rules to encourage their recycling.
EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck said that fluorescent light bulbs are an energy efficient alternative to incandescent bulbs, and whenever possible should be recycled.
"These bulbs contain mercury, and can be harmful to the environment and human health if not disposed of correctly," Enck said.
