APS Partnership Allows Disposal and Recycling of Compact Fluorescent Lights

April 17, 2008

Phoenix, AZ  -   Arizona Public Service, Ace Hardware and Veolia Environmental Services announced today a comprehensive new initiative to help make disposal of the increasingly popular compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) easy and environmentally friendly, with the added assurance that the CFLs will be recycled. 

Joining the partnership are 10 Ace Hardware stores throughout Arizona (see attached list of stores) that are now set up as collection sites to receive burned out bulbs. APS customers can simply drop off their used CFLs - free of charge - at the participating Ace locations. Once collected, Ace Hardware will send the CFLs, shipped in sealed containers, to Veolia Environmental Services, a waste services facility in Phoenix. There, more than 99 percent of each light bulb will be recovered and reused, including the trace amounts of mercury contained in each bulb. 

APS has sold more than 5 million CFLs in its ENERGY STAR^® Lighting Program, which began three years ago. Those sales are expected to save customers more than $150 million in energy costs over the life of the bulbs and eliminate more than 2.25 billion pounds of greenhouse gases. And, even though the lights typically last more than five years, eventually they will wear out.

"Because the bulbs continue to be a popular product with our customers, we want to encourage the proper disposal and recycling of the CFLs," said Tom Hines, APS program manager. "Of course CFLs also may be safely disposed by placing them in a sealed plastic bag, and placing the bag in a garbage can, or in a household hazardous waste container. Extending the life cycle of products is ultimately a more complete sustainable effort."

Erin Moore, Veolia, national accounts manager, electronics recycling, said the company recycles the lights using state-of-the art equipment at four sites nationwide, including one in Phoenix. There, glass, phosphor powder, ballasts and mercury are separated, recycled or reused to eventually find life again.

Ace Hardware owner, Lisa Mandile said, "The one thing that compels me the most about this partnership is the completeness of it -- as retailers and consumers. Ace has built its entire customer base on being the 'Helpful Hardware Place.' Today, it is time for Ace Hardware to be recognized as offering the 'Best Helpful Earth Choices.' We are obligated to the communities we serve to offer significant possibilities to achieve this goal."

Participating Ace Hardware Stores

More information about the APS ENERGY STAR lighting program and can be found at aps.com. The APS CFL program is funded by APS customers and approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Arizona Public Service Co.
APS, Arizona's largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves about 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state's 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE: PNW).

Veolia Environmental Services in North America
Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp., headquartered in Lombard, IL, offers fully integrated environmental solutions to virtually all industrial, commercial, municipal and residential sectors. It is part of the Veolia Environmental Services (VES) group, the only global manager of liquid, solid, non-hazardous and hazardous waste; on-site waste processing, industrial cleaning and process maintenance; and recycling, recovery and disposal for both the public and private sectors. VES has over 80,000 employees in 33 countries and posted revenues of $13.6 billion in 2007. Veolia Environment (NYSE:VE), the parent of VES, with operations in water, waste, energy and transportation management, has more than 320,000 employees in 64 countries and recorded revenues of $48 billion in 2007. For more information, please visit www.veoliaes.com.

Ace Hardware
Throughout its 80-year history, Ace Hardware has been known as the helpful hardware store by both customers and communities. In 2007, Ace Hardware was ranked the "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Major Home Improvement Retail Stores" by J.D. Power and Associates in its inaugural study of the retail home improvement industry. With 4,600 hardware, home center and building materials stores that generate annual retail sales of more than $12 billion, Ace is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace currently operates 14 distribution centers in the U.S. and a warehouse in Shanghai, China, and its retailers' stores are located in all 50 states and 60 countries. More information about Ace can be found at www.acehardware.com.

Maria Arellano, APS, (602) 250-3155
Erin Moore, Veolia Environmental Services, (602) 233-2955
Lisa Mandile, Ace Hardware, (602) 376-8216