Environment Agency data released this month has uncovered the scale of WEEE non-compliance of product sold through online marketplaces.
For the last four and a half months of 2025, online marketplaces were legally required to report sales of electrical products sold via their platforms. And that data showed an annual market share of 13.8% for consumer lamps, and 11% for consumer luminaires.
Commenting on the news, Recolight CEO Nigel Harvey said
“At last we can see the true extent of non-compliance through online marketplaces. What is more, one of the largest operators, eBay, does not yet appear in the list of compliant producers. So, once their data is included, and it grossed up into a full year equivalent, market shares could well be over 25% for consumer luminaires, and over 35% for consumer lamps.”
He added
“The really good news for the lighting industry is that, at long last, online sellers will be forced to pay their share of WEEE costs. Recolight has worked tirelessly to see this change introduced over many years, and we are very grateful to current and former Defra staff who made this happen.”
The WEEE regulations were amended last year, and from 12th August 2025 online marketplaces were required to start collecting data for all electrical goods brought into the UK via their platforms.
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About Recolight
Recolight is the leading UK WEEE compliance scheme for the lighting industry. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, funded by producer Members, Recolight takes on responsibility for its Members’ WEEE compliance, giving their customers access to the UK’s most comprehensive free lamp collection and recycling service.
Recolight’s comprehensive offering makes it the preferred WEEE scheme for the lighting industry, setting the standard for the sector. It has the biggest UK-wide network of collection points for all WEEE lighting. As a result, since its founding in 2007, Recolight has funded the recycling of over 390 million lamps, LEDs and luminaires, more than all other UK WEEE schemes put together.
Recycling isn’t always the best solution, Recolight go beyond recycling.
Working with the lighting industry, Recolight offer support and services to help their Producer Members transition to a Circular Economy. With a Reuse Service, workshops, webinars, Circular Lighting report, Circular Lighting Live, LCA service and carbon assessment, Recolight is the Compliance Scheme that gives much more.
