The new energy-saver fluorescent bulbs you'll find in any shop these days are better for the environment than old-fashioned bulbs – but they still come with their own set of problems. The CFL bulbs, and fluorescent lights like the industrial-style ones you'll find at most office buildings, contain small amounts of mercury, which can be harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.

It's no small matter: each year, more than 30 million fluorescent lamps are dumped in landfills in Ontario alone.

But a new recycling program in Ontario called Take Back the Light aims to clean up the fluorescent light industry. The program is the first initiative in North America to focus on fluorescent tubes, and vows to safely recycle 10 million fluorescent tubes in Ontario by 2012.

Ontario's provincial government will do its part for the deal by contributing up to 1 million light tubes a year from government-owned buildings to the recycling program. "Government has a key role to play by cleaning up our own house and by setting the example for industry and the general public," Environment Minister John Gerretsen told The Star.

Take Back the Light is hoping thousands of Ontario companies and residents will get involved in the recycling movement, too. For more information about the organization, visit their website, takebackthelight.ca.

By Kathryn Hawkins