In order to help small businesses properly recycle their used fluorescent lamps (fluorescent bulbs or tubes) this year, there will be a used fluorescent lamp collection held on Tuesday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 1p.m. These collection events will be held in the parking lot of the Scott County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility.

The Scott County HHW Facility is located at 588 Country Trail E. (Highway 282), a half-mile west of the intersection of County Road 17 and Highways 13 and 282. While business waste cannot be brought to the Scott County HHW Facility itself, the HHW parking lot will be used for these business bulb collection events due to its central location within the county.

Businesses will once again be charged low rates for the disposal of their various items. Go to the Scott County Web page for more information on rates and items: www.co.scott.mn.us (then click on Small Business Fluorescent Lamp Collection Coming May 8^th located under the heading “What’s New in Scott County”).  Payment is required at the time of the collection (if you bring a check to pay the disposal fee for your items, the check can be made out to "Retrofit Recycling Inc"). If possible, transport used lamps to the collection in their original (or similar) containers since this will help to minimize or prevent breakage. When fluorescent lamps are broken, mercury vapor is released into the air.

Again this year, several local utility companies have agreed to pay for the disposal of the first 10 lamps from any of their commercial and/or industrial customers. Participants must bring proof of a business utility account, such as a billing statement or receipt, to show there is an account with Minnesota Valley Electric (MVEC), New Prague Utilities Commission, Shakopee Public Utilities, or Xcel Energy (NSP).

Those with large quantities (more than 1,000 lamps) are asked to contact Retrofit Recycling Inc. directly at 1-800-795-1230 to arrange for an on-site pickup. For more information, call the Scott County Environmental Health Department 24-hour Information Line at (952) 496-8787.