The history of Recolight

Recolight is the UK’s leading specialist WEEE compliance scheme for lamps .
We were established by the UK lamp industry in 2005 primarily for the purpose of operating a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Compliance Scheme on behalf of Lamp Producers in the UK. Our operating model is based upon one developed by the European Lamp Companies Federation (ELC) - a European Trade Association for lamp manufacturers - although the implementation is different in each country, reflecting the different national implementations of the WEEE Directive EC2002/94.

The WEEE Regulations require Producers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and their Compliance schemes to finance and put systems in place to ensure the treatment (including recycling) of separately collected WEEE. The UK Lamp industry aims to meet the obligations of Producers of Gas Discharge Lamps through its industry-led Compliance Scheme - Recolight.

We received scheme operator approval on 21st February 2007 and went live operationally on July 2nd 2007. Through us, the lamp industry alone has been responsible for collecting and recycling more items of WEEE than any other sector in the last two years.

Our objectives are to:

• Provide a Producer Compliance scheme which meets its Participant's obligations under the UK WEEE regulations.
• Register Lamp Producers who have obligations under the WEEE Regulations as scheme Participants.
• Finance and manage the separate collection and treatment of waste Gas Discharge Lamps in an environmentally sound manner.
• Provide information to all interested parties, including Distributors and End Users, as to best practice concerning Lamp Recycling procedures and encourage the development of an effective collection network for end-of-life lamps prior to shipment to the recycling plants for treatment.
• Interface with the appropriate authorities representing Scheme participants' views and interests.
• Assist Government bodies in the development of the WEEE Regulations and similar environmental interest legislation.