Recolight, the UK’s leading lighting WEEE compliance scheme has announced a major milestone having funded the recycling of a third of a billion fluorescent & LED lamps and luminaires since the WEEE regulations were implemented in 2007. This is enough waste to fill the Royal Albert Hall 12 times.

This milestone has been made possible with the commitment and support of Recolight Lighting Producers Members, together with collection and recycling partners.

Operating as a not for profit compliance scheme, Recolight’s funds are used to finance a free lamp collection and recycling service for all  business end users. A free luminaire recycling service is provided for Recolight’s Producer Members. This way of operating goes above and beyond the strict legal requirements of the WEEE regulations.

Nigel Harvey, Chief Executive of Recolight said, “Our Members and collection partners can be very proud that they have achieved this milestone. Their role is integral in making sure we meet the Recolight recycling targets and it is a testament to their dedication to improve lighting recycling in the UK.”

For Recolight, as for so many organisations, there has been no year like 2020.  The critical task for the Recolight team as lockdown started, was to maintain our service for the lighting producer members of our WEEE scheme, and for our collection partners.

We are proud to say that our waste lamp collection service continued almost uninterrupted – although clearly the number of collection requests we received dropped significantly.  That is particularly pleasing because it materially reduced the risk of any waste lamps being sent to landfill during lockdown. 

Having recycled more lamps, LEDs and luminaires in total than all other UK WEEE schemes combined, Recolight can claim, with some justification, to be the leading WEEE compliance scheme for lighting.