“Lowe’s is always looking for new and better ways to serve our customers and continue to be responsible stewards of the environment,” said Michael Chenard, Lowe’s director of environmental affairs. “Recycling is a simple way to help reduce unnecessary waste in our communities. The recycling centers make it easier for customers to make a difference, and we look forward to continuing to partner with them to promote and support community recycling.”

The recycling centers will be provided at all 1,700 retail stores in the continental U.S. Customers can drop off any expired, unbroken CFL, any rechargeable battery up to 11 pounds and all used mobile phones and plastic shopping bags. Lowe’s stores in Canada also feature CFL recycling centers.

Lowes said the products are responsibly shipped and recycled.

The home improvement chain partnered with Call2Recycle to handle recycling of rechargeable batteries and mobile phones. Each year since joining the Call2Recycle program, Lowe’s has increased the volume of rechargeable batteries it recovers from consumers, with more than 334,000 pounds recycled last year, the company said.

Also, every Lowe’s store in the U.S. offers free appliance recycling to customers when new appliances are purchased.

Beyond consumer recycling, the stores also recycle shipping material. For the past five years the chain has run a nationwide pallet recycling program. In 2009, Lowe’s recycled more than 166,000 tons of wood pallets, along with 147,000 tons of cardboard and nearly 400 tons of shrink wrap.