Sainsbury’s To Recycle Bulbs And Batteries
Since 1 February 2010, in compliance with the WEEE Regulations, all retailers are required to provide portable battery recycling facilities.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) was introduced in January 2007, and aims to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it. It also aims to improve the environmental performance of businesses that manufacture, supply, use, recycle and recover electrical and electronic equipment.
One of the first major retailers to do so is Sainsbury's who in partnership with light-bulb recycling specialists Recolight now provide co-collection facilities for low-energy light bulbs as well.
The nationwide scheme makes Sainsbury's the first retailer to offer the joint collection of light-bulbs and batteries, following a successful pilot in late 2009. The scheme has now been rolled out across 200 of Sainsbury's larger stores.
The scheme uses specially designed collection containers, placed at the recycling areas of larger stores. All light bulbs and batteries collected will be sent for recycling at approved treatment facilities.
Recolight Chief Executive Nigel Harvey explained that Recolight is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to maximising the recycling of fluorescent tubes, which includes energy-saving light bulbs.
Recolight was established by the UK lamp producers who account for a significant share of the UK market. Its members are producers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) who put new lamps on the market for the first time in the UK and are therefore obliged to comply with the WEEE Regulations.
When the pilot scheme was set up, Sainsbury's Environmental Affairs Manager, Jack Cunningham, said: “Energy-saving light bulbs contain a minute amount of mercury, and it is therefore important to recycle them.”
Environment Minister Dan Norris said: “Using energy-efficient bulbs saves energy, saves carbon and saves money, and I'm delighted to hear that Sainsbury's and Recolight are taking the lead with this initiative to make it easier for people to recycle their bulbs when they come to the end of their long life.”
He hopes that other retailers will see that this makes good sense for consumers and follow suit.
Download the WEEE Regulations
Source: Croners / Environment Agency
