RECOLIGHT
RECYCLING LIGHT FOR THE FUTURE Recolight, an organisation set up by the lighting industry to provide WEEE compliance for the lighting industry, explains how contractors can utilise the WEEE system to get lamp recycling free of charge.
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s the roll-out of LED luminaires continues, more and more traditional light fittings and fluorescent lamps are being removed by electrical contractors. Because the waste lamps contain mercury that needs to be carefully managed, it is important that they be recycled in specialist facilities. Many contractors should be able to access, free of charge, recycling of the old waste lamps if they return them to the wholesaler involved in the supply of the new fittings. For most wholesalers, this is because they have a waste lamp container supplied by Recolight. However, in some cases, contractors or their customers are being charged by waste management companies. This is not necessary, and in all cases, contractors should be able to access free of charge lamp recycling. This is because WEEE is ‘producer pays’ legislation. This means that the producers of new lamps are required to finance the recycling of waste lamps. Where contractors collect sufficient quantities of waste lamps, they may be eligible to receive a free Recolight container on their own premises. This is clearly more convenient than relying on regular trips back to the wholesaler. And if contractors can’t meet the eligibility
threshold, there are also low-cost container lease options available.
Increasing recycling rates The lamp recycling rate was around 48% in 2018. If we are to continue to increase the rate, we need to be vigilant for any indication that some businesses may not be recycling lamps. It is all too easy to put fluorescent tubes in the bottom of a skip. Throw on a few bricks, and they have disappeared. Not only is this very bad environmental practice, it is also unlawful.
Beware of noncompliant products Contractors should beware of buying non-compliant products. A recent survey showed that 76% of LED lightbulbs available for sale in the UK on a leading online multi-seller marketplace were not compliant with the WEEE regulations. That meant they are not contributing to the cost of UK lamp recycling. And if they are not compliant with WEEE (where becoming compliant is relatively straightforward), how likely is it that they also comply with other legislations, such as electrical safety?
The lighting industry and sustainability There is no doubt that lighting has done a lot to promote sustainability. LED products have much longer lifetimes, far greater system efficacies, are more flexible and controllable, and – vitally – do not contain mercury. In time, LED will materially reduce the proportion of energy used for lighting. It is widely accepted that lighting accounts for around a fifth of electricity consumption. As LED products are more widely adopted, that proportion can be expected to fall significantly. The associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is a vital contribution to sustainability. Lamp recycling rates in the UK have grown faster than any other waste electrical equipment category, from 19% in 2008, to 48% in 2018. The lighting industry is unique in taking such an effective, sector specific approach to waste and recycling. With electrical contractors, wholesalers and manufacturers (via Recolight) working together, the industry can be justifiably proud of its recycling record, and this additional contribution to sustainability. To learn how Recolight can help, visit www.recolight.co.uk/business Recolight, recolight.co.uk
Lighting
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November 2019 | 13
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