To the growing list of recyclable products, add lightbulbs. Last June, Sylvania introduced a program to encourage consumers to mail used compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) for recycling.

For $15, the company sells Recyclepak, a lined box that can hold 12 small CFLs or eight medium or large ones. You fill the box with used CFLs, then mail it via FedEx using a prepaid shipping label that's included.

Unlike incandescent bulbs, energy-saving CFLs contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin, which is released when bulbs are incinerated or broken. So be sure to store CFLs carefully. When you send the pack back, Veolia Environmental Services removes the mercury so that it can be reused in fluorescent lighting.

CR's take. Paying $15 and shipping bulbs isn't ideal, and you'll be spending at least $1.25 more per bulb, in effect. But CFLs save enough energy that you'll still pay less than you would for incandescents in the long run. Until more local governments, retailers, and manufacturers create easy-to-use recycling plans, Recyclepak is one way for consumers to recycle CFLs.

Learn more about fluorescent lightbulbs.

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