2018 Conference reconfirms EucoLight commitment to making the Circular Economy a reality for lighting
18 lighting WEEE compliance schemes meet for EucoLight annual conference
The third EucoLight Conference at Sassenheim, the Netherlands, gathered 70 delegates from the community of producers’ responsibility organisations for lighting. Latest developments in collection and treatment of end-of-life lighting products were discussed, as the transition towards a circular economy in the sector gathers pace.
Delegates were presented with insights on market trends and expected evolution of lighting waste flows and on LED technology by industry experts.
Technical challenges for more circularity in lighting business
The collection of used lighting products is subject to targets imposed by the legislation. However, collection rates can be improved through efficiency of operations, change in consumer behaviour and policy mechanisms, as was demonstrated during the conference.
LED lamps currently represent less than 2%[1] of the waste stream, with their long life, the industry has time to prepare for this new type of waste. To this end delegates learnt about the technical composition and options for future of LEDs and LED recycling techniques.
A level playing field for lighting
An important aspect for EucoLight members in achieving a circular economy in lighting, is ensuring a level playing field. Delegates strongly supported some of the new extended producer responsibility requirements in the EU waste package, and also called for more action against online freeriders. Nigel Harvey, CEO of Recolight and a director of EucoLight commented “We are pleased to be working with EucoLight to address non-compliance associated with online sales. We think that the adoption in the UK, of the amendments to the Waste Directive will help achieve this.”
EcuoLight Recycling Awards
The third edition of the EucoLight Light Recycling awards took place during the conference. This year the winners included a project focused on the collection of luminaires from LithtRec/Wecycle in The Netherlands, an awareness raising campaign regarding the UK lamp collection target while also promoting free recycling for end users from Recolight, a communication campaign celebrating 10 years of Recolamp in Romania, and the foundation of the Lauterer Wettbewerb association in Germany dedicated to detecting and combatting free-riding cases presented by Lightcycle.
Election of the Board – New EucoLight Chairman
The EucoLight General Assembly elected a new board of Directors. Hervé Grimaud from ESR/Récylum will take the role as Chairman,Nigel Harvey of Recolight, Vice-Chairman, Stephan Riemann, from Lightcycle, Treasurer,
Tomáš Rychetský from Ekolamp Czech Republic, Secretary, and Ourania Georgoutsakou of LightingEurope from Belgium, member of the Board.
[1] EucoLight Member research carried out with recyclers across the 18 Member States
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About EucoLight:
EucoLight is The European association of collection and recycling organisations for WEEE lamps and lighting. On behalf of its 19 members, EucoLight engages with everything related to the WEEE Directive, legislations and standards affecting the collection and recycling of WEEE lighting. EucoLight members collect and recycle, in aggregate, 79 % of the lamps waste collected in the 18 countries in which they operate.
EucoLight is the voice of European WEEE compliance schemes specialised in managing the collection and recycling of WEEE lighting; working to make the circular economy a reality for lighting products.
Founded mid-2015, EucoLight has quickly embarked into constructive dialogue with relevant stakeholders to provide expertise in the field of management and treatment of WEEE lighting and to promote the positive role of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes on the environment and society.
For more information, visit the EucoLight website www.eucolight.org, follow EucoLight on Twitter @EucoLight or contact the Secretary General, Marc Guiraud (marc.guiraud@eucolight.org).
