Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program
Saturday August 27th – Thinking about getting rid of your used refrigerator or freezer? Or just want to save some money on your energy bill? Take advantage of Southern California Edison’s Saturday pickup event in the City of Sierra Madre. SCE is offering its utility customers who are residents of Sierra Madre $50.00 in exchange for your inefficient, working refrigerator or freezer-and they will come pit it up for free. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 1-800-234-9722.
Used Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)
The rising use of CFLs in the community is a welcome energy-efficiency and money saving alternative to traditional light bulbs. These bulbs last many times longer than incandescent bulbs, but do not last forever. These bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and in order to safely recycle these bulbs it is recommended that they be brought to a household hazardous waste event or your local Home Depot®, which has graciously accepted these items for the past few years.
Should a fluorescent or CFL bulb break, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control recommend the following guidelines that should be followed:
– Open all doors and windows to ventilate the area for at least 15 minutes.
– Turn off AC/fan/heater so as not to circulate vapors.
– Young children and pregnant women should leave the area during cleanup.
– Wear protective equipment, such as a dust mask and gloves.
– Carefully remove the larger pieces and place them in secured closed container.
– Use two stiff pieces of paper such as index card to “sweep” the smaller pieces and dust.
– Put all material into a sealed container labeled “broken CFL” and take to household hazardous waste event.
For additional information on hazardous waste and recycling, please contact the Sierra Madre Public Works Department at 626-355-7135.