COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE WESTPARK RECYCLING CENTER
August 31, 2007 - Beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2007, Houston residents have another location where they can bring their compact fluorescent lights (CFL) and fluorescent tubes (limit of 10 per household per month). In addition to the City's two Environmental Service Centers (South ESC-11500 S. Post Oak; North ESC-5614 Neches) Houstonians can bring their CFLs and fluorescent tubes to the Westpark Consumer Recycling Center located at 5900 Westpark.
"We are happy to offer Houstonians a safe alternative to disposal of their compact fluorescent lights," said Harry J. Hayes, Solid Waste Management Department Director. "Our Westpark facility is convenient - it's a drive-through drop-off site, is centrally-located and is open 6 days a week," Hayes added. The Westpark Consumer Recycling Center is open Mondays through Saturdays, except holidays from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CFLs from businesses will not be accepted.
Council Member Toni Lawrence remarked, "The Westpark Consumer Recycling Center (new program) is an exciting new addition to the Solid Waste Management Department to improve the air quality in Houston by properly disposing of fluorescent bulbs. Millions of fluorescent bulbs are illegally being destroyed each year with damage to our air quality because of the expense and unavailability of proper disposal of these bulbs." CM Lawrence added, "I look forward to the day that office buildings partner to help solve this problem throughout Houston with individual building collections in various areas."
Residents are encouraged to be careful in packing and transporting their CFLs and tubes to avoid breakage and spillage. The CFLs contain traces of household hazardous chemicals.
The Westpark Consumer Recycling Center is the first recycling center offered by the City of Houston in 1989. The Westpark Consumer Recycling Center allows all Houstonians the opportunity to recycle their used goods. The center accepts #1 and #2 plastic containers, aluminum and tin cans, cardboard, computers and other residential electronic scraps, glass bottles and jars, magazines, newspapers, office paper, oil filters, telephone books, used motor oil, used tires and B.O.P.A. (car Batteries, used motor Oil, latex Paint and Anti-freeze).
The Environmental Service Centers (ESC) provide a drive through, drop-off location for Houston residents to bring their household hazardous waste such as anti-freeze, batteries, fuel, oil, paint, pesticides and other household cleaners. Residential electronic scrap items (monitors, CPUs, televisions, VCRs, etc) will also be accepted.
The ESCs can accept most household hazardous wastes. However, there are some materials the ESC cannot accept. These include: ammunition, explosives, medical wastes, radioactive wastes (smoke detectors), wastes from businesses, and compressed gas cylinders.
The South Environmental Service Center is located at 11500 S. Post Oak and is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and the 2 nd Saturday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The North Environmental Service Center is located at 5614 Neches, Building C, and is open to Houston residents every 2nd Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
