 July 2009e-newsletter |
In this issue: Consumer awareness programme Recolight Annual Members' Meeting Know your regulations NEW – expected changes to the requirements for a Waste Carrier's licence from October 2009 Collection point of the month – Abacus Electrical Supplies A collection point near you Feature your collection point |
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A note from Eddie Taylor
This will be my last eNewsletter as Recolight Chief Executive - with effect from 1st June 2009 I handed over the Chief Executive role to Nigel Harvey. Nigel has a background of senior management roles in the product compliance industry and brings a wealth of valuable experience to Recolight that will help us to continue to develop our activities to meet our bold recycling targets. I have very much enjoyed the challenge of working with Recolight to help establish it as the specialist WEEE Compliance scheme for lamps and feel that much has been achieved. However there is still much that we can do and I'm confident that Nigel and the Recolight team will drive those further developments onwards. I wish Nigel, the Recolight team and all our RecoNet members and partners all the best for the future. For Nigel's introduction, please click here Eddie Taylor |
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Business research results
In April and May we commissioned research amongst electrical contractors into awareness levels of the WEEE regulations. Our researchers contacted just over 1,000 smaller electrical contractors across the UK to find out whether they are aware of the regulations, how they find out about them, if they recycle lamps and if so, how they do so. Overall the results of the research are encouraging and show good general awareness amongst smaller electrical contractors of the WEEE regulations and their obligations under them. 
Only a small percentage (7%) of electrical contractors admitted that they don't recycle their lamps, but this figure could be larger bearing in mind the probability that those who are aware they should recycle might not readily admit that they don't. The vast majority of respondents said that they recycle their lamps via their supplier or wholesaler, many of whom are RecoNet members.
The vast majority of electrical contractors are aware of the WEEE regulations. However, closer analysis of the results reveals a considerable variation in awareness levels between the regions. For example Greater London had the highest percentage (nearly 25%) of electrical contractors who said they had not heard of the WEEE regulations. |
| Consumer awareness programme The Recolight Big Light Project has gone live in 704 schools in the UK, of which 248 are schools across London and the South-East. Aiming to improve understanding amongst children of the importance of recycling new technology energy efficient light bulbs, 128 primary and 120 secondary schools across Kent, Middlesex, London, Surrey and West Sussex, have signed up to the brand new pilot education programme which will bring the topic of light alive to children in a fun and engaging way while communicating serious messages about the environment and climate change. Kids and teachers can learn more about the programme at a new dedicated website www.biglightproject.co.uk where teaching resources can be downloaded. They can also enter Professor Bright's exciting ‘LIGHT ON THE FUTURE' competition for a chance to win a Nintendo WII and WII Fit for themselves, £1000 for their school and a trip to the theatre for their class all courtesy of Recolight. The competition, which runs throughout the summer term until October, has two entry categories. Children can choose between designing a leaflet or magazine advertisement to promote the recycling of low energy light bulbs or drawing a picture with words/writing a 250 word description of how our planet will look in 20 years time if we don't recycle. Peter Lees, Commercial Director for Recolight says: “We are pleased to see so much interest from schools in our pilot programme. Although it is about the topic of light and lighting it is designed to stimulate, challenge and educate young people about some important issues affecting society – recycling, energy efficiency and the response to climate change as well as introducing them to basic lamp technology. As the organisation responsible for the safe disposal of Gas Discharge Lamps in the UK, Recolight has developed this initiative because we believe that young people are the ambassadors for change when it comes to responding to the global problems that affect our planet." |
| Recolight Annual Members' Meeting The Recolight Annual Members' Meeting held on June 16th at the British Library Conference Centre included a lively panel discussion and Q & A session with representatives from BERR, the WEEE Advisory Board, Recolight and the International Solid Waste Association. Outgoing Chief Executive Eddie Taylor reported on a successful year for Recolight. Mr Taylor said that Recolight had submitted its 2008 Declaration of Compliance to the Environment Agency and had legally met its Members' obligations. Recolight estimates returned lamp volumes were up around 15% in 2008 compared to 2007. The reported tonnage in 2008 was 5,500 tonnes, equivalent to around 25-30 million lamps Following the official business delegates heard an update on the regulations from Debbie Huntingdon of BERR. Ms Huntingdon said that the department was reviewing submissions from the consultation on the WEEE regulation amendments. BERR and the Environment Agency saw the proposed amendment of the regulations as an opportunity to ease the administrative burden and to simplify evidence processing with responsibility for evidence potentially moving to treatment facilities rather than being with scheme members. Other panel members included Leigh Holloway of the WEEE Advisory Board and Christian Ludwig, Chairman of Recolight.NEW – expected changes to the requirements for a Waste Carrier's licence from October 2009 If you transport Controlled Waste (waste produced by a business, of which Hazardous Waste is a variety) it is expected that the Environmental Permitting Regulations will change from 1st October 2009 such that, except for householders moving their own waste, all other movements (for businesses or organisations) will require a waste carrier's licence – i.e. the possibility of carrying out ‘facilitating movements' on a non-contractual basis will disappear. We would advise all RecoNet collection points who pick up WEEE lamps from their customers or move them between branches for bulking-up purposes to obtain such licences before October. + NB. Coding the consignment note: When these waste lamps are removed for treatment and disposal, a hazardous waste consignment note should be raised at the time the goods are collected and in the field provided for the premises the Part A consignment note code should be composed as follows: EXEABC/DEF01. Where ABC are the first three letters of the name of the waste carrier, DEF [after the oblique line ] are the first three letters of the company producing/consigning the waste and the final two spaces are for numbers to differentiate consignments from the same company A collection point near you Recolight has 1000 Commercial Collection Points across the nation. To find the nearest collection point to you click here or call us on 0845 601 7749. |
Do you want to feature your Collection Point in future e-newsletter issues? In addition, we would like to feature members' Commercial Collection Points (CCPs) in this newsletter. If you have a CCP and would be happy for us to interview you and send a photographer to your site, please do let us know. newsletter@recolight.co.uk |
| Collection point of the month - Abacus Electrical Supplies Abacus Electrical Supplies in Rochester was formed in 1998 by Danny Gladdish whose experience lay in both independent & national wholesalers. Abacus offers the services of a general electrical wholesaler stocking over 5000 lines, whilst maintaining the high levels of customer service and quality of an independent business. Abacus' Director Danny Gladdish says; “We've done a lot to raise awareness of the importance of recycling in the local area, and we are in an ideal location to provide businesses and the wider community with a safe, and free, way to dispose of their CFLs. We wanted to bring an important issue to people's attention, and becoming part of RecoNet was a good way to build upon what we were doing." “When we first heard of Recolight, we immediately thought it was a great idea and wanted to get involved. Recolight offers a flexible and sustainable solution, and as the normal incandescent bulbs are phased out, our aim is that our open collection point will encourage customers to dispose of their old lamps and hopefully make a new purchase in the process!"
Left to right: Danny Gladdish, Sonny Gladdish, Neil Bradley, Chris Ros
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Telephone: 0845 601 7749 (International) +44 0845 601 7749 Email: news@recolight.co.uk |
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Disclaimer: All information published in this newsletter is available free of charge and published in good faith. We take every care when compiling the contents but can assume no responsibility for any effects arising therefrom. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect the position of Recolight and we can not be held responsible for them.