Can you help householders solve a WEEE problem?

Martin Rose, Business Development Manager of not-for-profit lamp recycling specialist Recolight, explains how Local Authorities can help communities recycle their old light bulbs.

To guarantee we are not overwhelmed by the large volume of energy saving bulbs expected to reach end-of-life in the future, the processes for the safe and efficient recycling of these bulbs, known in the industry as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), must be put in place now. Local authorities have a crucial part to play in ensuring we are ready to deal with this anticipated deluge properly.

Roughly 190 million Gas Discharge Lamps (GDLs), which includes household CFLs, were sold in the UK last year.

Although this equates to only 1.4% of the tonnage of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) placed on the market, lamps account for nearly 25% of the volume of waste (WEEE) returned for recycling. This figure demonstrates an already remarkable achievement for the lighting industry in keeping harmful GDLs out of landfill and towards meeting the EU’s latest target of 65% of waste lamps being recycled sustainably. As the specialist WEEE compliance scheme for the lighting industry, Recolight funded the recycling of more than 50 million GDLs, the equivalent of 9,750 tonnes during the two years to June 2009, via our unique network of 1,000 commercial collection points.

Although the majority of the lamps coming back for recycling have been from the commercial sector, over the next few years we anticipate a considerable increase in the volume of consumer lamps reaching end-of-life.

With the September EU phase out of traditional incandescent light bulbs, all forms of incandescent light sources will be banned by 2012. This means that consumers will have to buy energy efficient
alternatives, such as a CFLs. Prior to the ‘bulb ban’, sales of CFLs had already increased dramatically following initiatives by utilities companies to provide customers with energy-saving alternatives.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are a type of GDL and are categorised as WEEE. They have a longer life time than incandescent bulbs, up to ten years in some cases, and contain a minute amount of mercury (usually no more than 4mg per lamp). Per bulb, the mercury does not pose a threat to the environment or human health, and it is this which enables the bulb to generate light efficiently and to achieve the energy saving benefits they provide. However, the importance of recycling CFLs is paramount, as large quantities going to landfill would have a devastating impact on the environment.

The public sector has been leading the way in recycling, and it is important that local government plays its part in keeping CFLs out of landfill. Currently, awareness amongst householders of the need to recycle their lamps is very low - our research shows only 34% of householders know they should recycle CFLs - and even fewer people actually know how to go about recycling them. At the moment householders are required to make the trip to one of 1,100 nationwide civic amenity sites, but we are actively working to develop alternative collection and recycling options to make recycling lamps more simple and efficient. We need to work together to raise awareness of the issue and improve the recycling infrastructure for consumers.

Schemes like Recolight are in place to make the recycling of WEEE as simple and efficient as possible. We are actively working with local authorities and government organisations to ensure that a strong and consistent CFL recycling message is sent out to the community, and to build upon the successes we have had in the commercial sector.

Raising awareness amongst householders is integral to increasing recycling rates. Recolight is already
running an education programme called The Big Light Project in over 700 primary and secondary schools across the South East, to help increase awareness of the need to recycle CFLs amongst children (www.biglightproject.co.uk). We are also working directly with retailers, local authorities, county councils, and waste disposal authorities to implement in-store take-back and other drop-off points to make it easy for the public to recycle their old CFLs. This is especially important as our recent consumer research showed that almost half of the public (45%) would rather throw out old bulbs if recycling required significant personal effort. As such, we welcome contact with those responsible for waste management to implement CFL take back systems. Email info@recolight.co.uk or call 0845 601 7749 to find out how Recolight can help you recycle or to register your interest in joining Recolight’s collection point network.