With the ever changing lighting technologies that are hitting today’s market, we are forever disposing of the redundant light fittings and lamps that are no longer required.
Many people including companies are unaware of what is inside the lamps that are now being replaced and are unaware of the right way of disposing of them.
There are regulations that have in been in place for nearly 10 years now, but we still find that they are not abided by or taken seriously.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE)
WEEE, The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations is a specialist part of the waste and recycling industry. It is a rapidly growing sub-sector due largely to the implementation of the original WEEE Directive in the UK by the WEEE Regulations 2006.
Since then, the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 became law in the UK on the 1st of January 2014 and replaced the 2006 Regulations.
Click here to download the full WEEE Regulation booklet
Powercor works in conjunction with Recolight.
As an electrical and mechanical contractor, we have to abide by many industry governing bodies as well as health and safety associations and we have been working in conjunction with Recolight for the last year to ensure that we dispose of every lamp we replace correctly with a view to helping the environment.
Powercor are now registered as an open collection point, offering the recycling service and have two of Recolight’s containers for storing and collecting all gas discharge lamps ensuring correct disposal.
Recolight is the UK’s specialist WEEE compliance scheme for the recycling of Fluorescent lamps, Gas Discharge Lamps, LEDs and Luminaires.
This a FREE service because they are funded by over 130 lamp producer members including GE Lighting, Havells, Osram and Philips Lighting who we are a Value Added Partner to.
This is a non profit scheme because Recolight is dedicated to keeping lamps out of landfill which Powercor has now adjoined to.
What lamps can be Recycled?
Compact fluorescent lamps and fluorescent tubes are energy efficient and do not belong in the rubbish bin.
They contain small amounts of mercury and although this is completely safe for users of the lamps, they must be collected separately for disposal.
Furthermore, by recycling, it ensures that valuable parts of the lamps, such as glass and metal, aren’t lost.
So, all energy efficient lamps can be recycled whereas the older style incandescent bulbs can’t and should be thrown away in your rubbish bin.
We do advise however for you not to be tempted to recycle your old light bulbs with your glass bottles and jars because they are made from a different type of glass and also contain metal parts.
The Future
Powercor is ensuring that we do everything we can to help protect the environment and although this is just a small step, it is showing that along with all of our energy saving and sustainability technologies we design and install, we are moving in the right direction.
Powercor – Recolight Collection Centre
We are registered to dispose of your unwanted lamps fittings, free of charge.
