This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
WASTE MANAGEMENT


Don’t be left in the dark about lamp recycling


Frank Craven explains what the public sector can do to help local communities recycle low- energy light bulbs and increase recycling rates


Frank Craven


of ‘bring sites’ as well as 250 Sainsbury’s supermarket recycling centres across the UK.


These containers have been in place since the end of 2009 and the response has been very encouraging. The availability of the facilities is helping to raise awareness of the importance of recycling CFLs and the public is responding accordingly.


L


ack of public awareness of the importance of recycling low-energy


light bulbs (known as compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs) is a startling reminder that we need to ensure the correct facilities are in place, in abundance, so as to encourage recycling of this often forgotten waste stream.


The signs are positive. Research by Recolight found that 81% of people would definitely recycle their end of life low-energy light bulbs, but 71% want to be able to recycle in a convenient place such as a supermarket or community location such as a library etc.


It is this need to provide convenient collection facilities that has motivated Recolight to partner with local authorities and a number of retailers, providing them with one of two specially developed light bulb collection containers. Through these partnerships over 350 light bulb collection facilities have already been established for the public to deposit end-of-life CFLs nationwide.


The Bulbstore Maxi, an outdoor container, has been trialled with local authorities in Peterborough and Cambridge at a number


42 pse


Following this success, and in a drive to make the facilities accessible to all, the Bulbstore Maxi is now available to all local authorities on a long term lease.


The Bulbstore Mini is a container developed by Recolight for indoor use. Designed in partnership with students from the Open University, the Bulbstore Mini has been specially designed to minimise breakage by allowing bulbs to gently roll into the container via a series of internal shelves.


It has been designed for any indoor community location such as retailers, local council receptions, and post offices - any place members of the public visit on a regular basis.


Earlier in 2010, Recolight partnered with multi-award winning recycling scheme CoBRA (Community Bulb Recycling Alliance) to establish a volunteer network to increase public access to low-energy light bulb collection facilities nationwide.


Volunteers are recruited and receive a Bulbstore Mini to be placed in a community location. These volunteers take responsibility for emptying


the containers, and taking the bagged waste lamps to a local collection facility. The scheme has been active since September and already a number of local authorities have taken a keen interest in it – Reading Council became the first local authority to roll out the scheme in October.


The independently tested design means the Bulbstore Mini is completely safe for use in such community locations. It has also been designed to be reusable and is itself recyclable. Once it is full the Bulbstore Mini can be safely emptied and put back into use and the secure bag of old bulbs can be bulked up for collection.


Increasing accessibility to and improving the infrastructure of recycling facilities for the public is key to Recolight’s mission to ensure that as many CFLs as possible are recycled. Disposing


of old low-energy light bulbs may often be overlooked but it is just as important as correctly disposing of other electrical and electronic items such as batteries or fridges. CFLs contain a minute amount of mercury which can be harmful to the environment in large quantities. It is therefore essential we do everything we can to keep them out of landfill.


We estimate that tens of millions of low-energy light bulbs will reach end-of-life over the next few years. In order to make sure we are in a position to deal effectively with this massive volume of waste CFLs, local authorities should start putting the necessary recycling infrastructure in place now.


Frank Craven is


membership development manager, Recolight


FOR MORE INFORMATION To find out more about Recolight’s Bulbstore Mini and Maxi:


T: 0845 601 7749 W: www.recolight.co.uk


Nov/Dec 10


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68