Recolight celebrates a milestone 200 million lamps recycled

Recolight, the leading WEEE compliance scheme for the lighting industry, has reached a major milestone, its Members having funded the recycling of 200 million lamps, luminaires and LEDs since 2007. This is enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall seven times.

Recolight is unique amongst WEEE compliance schemes in the UK for having the only dedicated open collection point network for consumer and business waste lamps and LEDs. With 2,300 collection points, the Recolight network contributed to a significant increase in the UK’s lamp recycling rate – up from 23% in 2008 to 52.8% in 2013.

Recolight launched its own luminaire compliance service during 2013, which was responsible for over 40% of the 984 tonnes of luminaires recycled as WEEE during 2013. Since the establishment of the Recolight service, the luminaire recycling rate in the UK has increased from 0.6% to 2%.

Recolight’s 130 Producer Members are committed to keeping lighting waste from contaminating the environment. To that end, they have recycled more lamps, LEDs and luminaires in total than all other UK WEEE schemes combined – also saving over 800kg of mercury from landfill. Recolight’s comprehensive offering and the success of its Members makes it the preferred scheme for the lighting industry, setting the standard for the sector.

Nigel Harvey, Chief Executive of Recolight said, “Our Members can be very proud that they have achieved this 200 million milestone; it is they that have made it possible and it is a testament to their dedication to improve lighting recycling in the UK. Their role is integral in making sure we meet the UK recycling targets set out in the recast WEEE directive.”

Suzanne Castine, marketing manager at Recolight added, “We are delighted to have reached this momentous landmark, having worked very hard to grow our network over the last twelve months. We provide compliance for all household and non-household lighting in scope of the WEEE regulations. This all ensures it is as simple as possible for both businesses and consumers to recycle their waste lamps, LEDs and luminaires, keeping these waste streams out of landfill.”