Some 70% of supermarkets and 50% of high-street chemists and household goods stores refuse to take back energy- saving light bulbs which have stopped working, even though they are required by law to do so, according to environment ministry research.

Most building supply and do-it-yourself shops do accept old bulbs when customers buy new ones. The bulbs should not be disposed off in normal household waste because they contain small amounts of mercury.
Some 14 million energy saving bulbs were bought between 2008 and 2010, the ministry inspectors said.