Ever-brighter lamp recycling results in the UK

United Kingdom – The UK’s lamp recycling rate jumped from 29.4% in 2011 to 39.5% last year – thus continuing the annual improvement seen since data were first recorded for the sector in 2008, notes Recolight, the domestic e-scrap compliance scheme for the lighting industry. Calling the results for 2012 ‘particularly strong’, Recolight asserts that the increase in the recycling rate partly originates from a reduction in the tonnage of new lamps put on the market but without a corresponding reduction in tonnages of lamps recycled.

Figures released by the UK’s Environment Agency show that the domestic lamp recycling rate was 23.2% in 2008, 24.1% in 2009 and 26% in 2010. For 2012, the UK business recycling rate for all e-scrap sectors was ‘just 5%’ compared to the aforementioned lamp industry result of just below 40%, it is observed.

Recolight’s ceo Nigel Harvey comments: ‘The lighting industry has set the benchmark for business WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) recycling; the 2012 figures demonstrate that we are well on the way to meeting the first set of higher targets outlined within the recast WEEE Directive.’

For more information, visit: www.recolight.co.uk