AVOIDING UNNECESSARY RECYCLING
IN THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY

The need to no longer see luminaires as a single life product has been widely discussed in the Recolight Webinar series. At Recolight, we recycle, but as we move towards a Circular Economy model, recycling is not always the best solution.

Recolight is under a legal obligation to prioritise re-use over recycling, so we need to facilitate and encourage re-use.

Recolight has identified two opportunities for the lighting industry which will help to fulfil the obligation of:

  • Avoiding waste
  • Reducing recycling
  • Stimulating reuse
  • Responding to the climate emergency

Introducing Recolight’s Re-use Services for lighting

Used lighting logo_Recolight reuse service

USED LIGHTING
The re-use/re-manufacture of used lighting

Recolight collects more than 1000 tonnes of light fittings each year.

  • Many are fluorescent fittings.
  • Some LED fittings.
  • Many are collected from large scale projects.
  • And a large numbers of identical fittings are removed.

Currently, virtually none are reused, although some are in very good condition before removal.
Much of the value is destroyed by recycling, can we change that?

About the service

Collecting better data on product to be removed during Recolight Producer Member projects will help us identify those that may be reusable (probably a minimum of 100-200 identical fittings).

That data will be provided to potential remanufacturers which could include the original producer of the product. Fittings will be delivered on a free of charge basis to remanufacturer in the UK.  The remanufacturer takes ownership and responsibility for product thereafter including compliance.

To make it happen, we will need trials and further discussions with stakeholders. We would love to hear from:

  • Companies willing to remanufacture product.
  • Companies willing to receive back their own brand fittings.
Lighting_Reuse recondition remanufacture recycle
Surplus new lighting _Recolight reuse service

SURPLUS NEW LIGHTING
Putting unsold new lighting equipment into service

Many manufacturers hold unsold stock which takes up valuable warehouse space and the decision to discard is often made at short notice. The aim of the service is to avoid unnecessary recycling and waste.

Recolight want to make it as easy as possible for a manufacturer (donor) to hand over new lighting equipment that they will no longer offer for sale. This could be ex-demonstration stock, unsold stock, or returned stock in “as new” condition. It also needs to be as easy as possible for a third-party company (recipient) to receive that product so that it can be offered for sale, or otherwise put into service.

About the service

The service will match unsold stock with potential recipients. New stock will be collected  free of charge by Recolight from Recolight Producer Members (donors).

Recolight Producer Members will be given access to an online inventory portal to upload product details, on which we ask you to:

  • Provide as much product detail as possible.
  • Confirm, to the best of your knowledge, without liability, that the product is compliant with the required standards/legislation that existed when it was first placed on the market.

If a recipient is not available immediately, Recolight will store the stock free of charge.

Potential recipients (which could include charities, voluntary sector, schools and others) will be given access to the portal to view products available and request stock. Recipients will:

  • Take full responsibility for compliance and warranties, based in part on donor declaration.
  • Pay for transport to their sites.
  • Undertake to de-brand/unambiguously label product to show that the recipient is regarded as the Producer.

To get involved, please contact us

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