In this issue:

Introduction from Nigel Harvey
Welcome to our tenth newsletter which once again comes during an exciting.... [VIEW MORE]

ERP partnership
Recolight and ERP (European Recycling Platform) have announced a.... [VIEW MORE]

WEEE – Our network of success
As the second anniversary of the WEEE Regulations.... [VIEW MORE]

Events
Recolight will be exhibiting at the Recycling and.... [VIEW MORE]

Consumer awareness programme
The Recolight Big Light Project, the pilot.... [VIEW MORE]

Know your regulations
This month’s ‘Know Your Regulations’ spot is a reminder.... [VIEW MORE]

Collection point of the month – Blyth & Wright
Established as an ironmongers in 1897, Blyth & Wright of... [VIEW MORE]

Feature your collection point
We would like to feature members' Commercial Collection Points (CCPs) in.... [VIEW MORE]

Welcome to Martin Rose
Martin Rose has been appointed as Recolight’s first Business.... [VIEW MORE]

And finally
A quick note to all of our collection points that we will soon be distributing.... [VIEW MORE]

Welcome to our tenth newsletter which once again comes during an exciting and busy time for us. In this newsletter you can find out more about our recent partnership with ERP which will mean that we will be able to collect portable batteries alongside CFLs when the battery regulations come into effect in 2010.

For further information on participating in this scheme please see below. We will also be updating you on our consumer awareness programme and our progress over the last two years. Thanks to you, we have been able to collect and recycle more items of WEEE than any other Producer Compliance Scheme.

This is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates that we are really making a difference when it comes to keeping WEEE out of landfill. Remember that if you are currently a closed collection point and would like to become an open collection point - where other businesses and/or householders can deposit their end-of-life lamps with you - we can help you do this. Your site will be listed on our online mapping tool and you may find the extra footfall could provide additional business benefits.

Finally, we welcome our new Business Development Manager, Martin Rose, to the team. Martin has been tasked with developing stronger links between Recolight and Local Authorities and we’re very pleased to have him on board.

Nigel Harvey

Recolight and ERP (European Recycling Platform) have announced a strategic alliance to provide a unique collection service for the recycling of both batteries and lamps. ERP is one of the UK’s leading electrical and electronic waste recycling schemes and deals with 15% of the UK's WEEE. A battery compliance scheme application has been submitted to the Environment Agency which is expected to announce the selected schemes at the end of September.

By partnering with ERP we will be able to offer organisations obligated to collect batteries, the opportunity to collect both waste batteries and CFLs. By combining two waste streams, we can use the same transport infrastructure for both products, helping to reduce CO2 emissions.  And for retailers and wholesalers with busy delivery schedules, it also cuts down the number of vehicles entering the site, and the associated paperwork.  Our partnership was even endorsed by Dan Norris Minister for Rural Affairs and Environment, who said, “I am pleased to hear of this development. Defra encourages practical and innovative ways to increase recycling and reduce CO2 emissions.”

If you think you may be eligible under the regulations or would be interested in offering battery collections alongside your current CFL collections please email info@recolight.co.uk  

As the second anniversary of the WEEE Regulations rolled by in July we decided to take a look at our successes over the last two years. Figures for 2008 show Recolight was responsible for funding the recycling of around 50 million Gas Discharge Lamps, helping to establish the scheme as a unique force in WEEE compliance.

Recolight is arguably responsible for recycling more items of WEEE than any other UK compliance scheme. Returned lamp volumes were up around 15% in 2008 compared to 2007, and the reported tonnage collected in the two years to June 2009 was 9,750 tonnes, the equivalent of approximately 50 million lamps.

In October last year we announced a significant rise in the number of individual ‘on demand’ collections we were making in response to customer demand.  One-off collections were up to 30 per month and this figure continues to increase as businesses realise the benefits of Recolight’s flexible and free collection options. 

As the UK’s only specialist lamp compliance scheme, our success can be attributed to our commitment to increasing lamp recycling and our unique network of nationwide collection points who make this possible. We are continually looking at ways to increase recycling rates and raise awareness of the need to recycle. Our growing collection network is testament to our success.

The Recolight Lamp Recycling Guide has been a big success and we just wanted to remind you that it is available to download from our website. Alternatively, hard copies can be requested for your customers by contacting Recolight directly on 0845 601 7749, or by emailing info@recolight.co.uk.

The Guide is an extremely useful tool, incorporating need-to-know information on the WEEE Regulations, details of the different recycling methods used to dispose of end of life lamps, and information for businesses and consumers on Recolight’s role and the environment.  To download the Lamp Recycling Guide, visit our website http://www.recolight.co.uk/go/media/downloads

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Know your regulations
This month’s ‘Know Your Regulations’ spot is a reminder that the implementation of Government legislation to phase out the traditional incandescent light bulb in favour of lower wattage energy saving light bulbs begins in September 2009.

Incandescent lamps will be restricted in Europe by 2012 and low efficiency halogen lamps by 2016

Stage / Date Phasing-out Replacements

Imminent:

01 Sept. 2009 All non clear (frosted) lamps (Energy Class A)
01. Sept. 2009 All clear lamps >950lm (~80W GLS)
All clear lamps <950lm of energy class F&G  Energy Class C

Future years:

 01. Sept. 2010 All clear lamps >725lm (~65W GLS) Energy Class C
 01. Sept. 2011 All clear lamps >450lm (~45W GLS) Energy Class C
 01. Sept. 2012 All clear lamps >60lm (~7W GLS) Energy Class C
01. Sept. 2013 Increased quality requirements1 Energy Class C
01. Sept. 2016 All clear lamps >60lm Energy Class B (subject to review)

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Consumer awareness programme The Recolight Big Light Project, the pilot education programme aimed at improving understanding amongst children of the importance of recycling energy efficient light bulbs, went live in June.  730 of the country’s schools across Kent, Middlesex, Greater London, Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex signed up to take part.   Now, the Project has a brand new film and website to enhance and supplement classroom teaching.  Headed by cartoon character Professor Bright, the film takes the viewer from the initial development of lighting and its progression through the ages, in order to engage children in a fun and memorable way whilst communicating important messages about climate change and the environment.  You can watch the movie at www.biglightproject.co.uk/movie back to top

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Established as an ironmongers in 1897, Blyth & Wright of Sheringham Norfolk, have been expanding ever since. Now offering a much larger range of goods, the family run business still provides good old fashioned service to help customers find what they are looking for. Today, brothers Jamie and Chris and father Ron, now 78, run and maintain the business, keeping the traditional values but also providing customers with excellence in choice and service.

Jamie Wright says; “We didn’t have the facilities to dispose of waste lamps properly, and when Recolight’s free service was recommended to us, we jumped at the chance to join. Disposing of an eight foot fluorescent tube in a dustbin was really difficult before and by offering ‘new lamps for old’ in the local area we’re continuing to help the community help the environment!”

“We’ve got a reputation locally as an “Aladdin’s Cave” and our heritage in ironmongery means we have always been recycling and restoring – it’s what we do! It’s great to know we’re doing our bit to be green.”

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Martin Rose

Nigel Harvey welcomed Martin to the team, and said: “Martin’s experience
of working with retailers and local authorities, and his understanding of
the waste management sector make him a valuable addition to Recolight’s team. As we endeavour to expand our network to encourage more lamp recycling, Martin’s appointment will be essential in helping to make
that happen.

“Martin’s proven skills and strong sales background make him the ideal candidate to help us expand our consumer collection network and to build on our achievements to date. In the B2B sector we already collect and recycle more items of WEEE than any other compliance scheme: Martin will play an integral part in helping us match this success for consumer collections.”

Martin joins from Valpak where he was UK Sales Manager, responsible for developing new business and managing local authority bidding processes. He will also support Commercial Manager, Peter Lees, in managing Recolight’s services for members.

A quick note to all of our collection points that we will soon be distributing information regarding consignment notes