Twin Falls, Idaho (KMVT-TV) When it comes to the Twin Falls recycling program, some of us have gotten a little confused, and that's why we'd like to clear up the situation. Basically it all comes down to the city of Twin Falls deciding to do away with the Recyclebank awards program.

Late last summer, the city of Twin Falls took a close look at how many people were using the rewards program, and what it was costing the city. With only 20 percent of the more than 14,000 households using their rewards points, the city decided to discontinue the program October first. But some people were turning in their recycle bins instead.

Josh Brown, District Manager for PSI Environmental Systems, says, "But we will continue the program. We have a contract with the city that will remain in place. It's just that the Recyclebank rewards program has ended effective October 1st."

Brown says you can use the Recyclebank points you already have, you just don't earn any new ones by recycling with the city of Twin Falls. But what do you do when it comes to disposing of compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs that contain mercury? There are a few hoops you need to jump through first.

Josh Bartlome, Executive Director of Southern Idaho Solid Waste, says, "I know that Home Depot and Lowe's have a recycling program that you can do the exact same thing. What they like to see is place the CFL bulb into a double zip top baggie, take it in there, they'll take care of it for you and they will recycle it."

Bartlome says if your bulbs are broken, you can seal them up in those double baggies and dispose of them in your regular trash. And an empty peanut butter jar will provide some additional safety.

Bartlome says, "That's what you really want to use if you want to take that extra step to make sure that none of your CFL breaks or leaks out of the bag. If you want to take that extra step, put it in an empty peanut butter jar. The city of Twin Falls manages to recycle more than 200 tons of material every month that doesn't go into the landfill."

Oct. 17, 2012.