Lighting & Electrical

Profiting From The Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET)

The Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) makes it cheaper for both businesses and householders to improve their energy efficiency. Since launching in January 2009, VEET provides a rebate for replacing old, inefficient appliances or sealing windows. A major area is getting rid of halogen lights and fluorescent tubes, and replacing them with LEDs, creating a fantastic opportunity for electrical contractors. How You Can Get Started With Victorian Energy Efficiency Target VEET works like t…

Lighting recycling in Australia: A complete guide to recycling lighting waste

The best way to tackle our growing lighting waste problem is to recycle old lights — here’s a guide to recycling lighting waste: Australia is facing a serious lighting waste challenge, however lighting recycling is on the rise as people realise how easy and convenient it is. Millions of old light bulbs, tubes and lamps are thrown into landfills around the country every year even though it’s bad for the environment. A guide to recycling lighting waste What types of lighting can be recycle…

How to recycle lighting: LED bulbs, smart lights, mercury-containing lamps

People are switching on to the benefits of lighting recycling to protect the environment and combat our growing waste challenges. Millions of old light bulbs and lamps still end up in landfill every year, even though most lighting waste should be recycled. There are a variety of benefits to recycling lighting waste, such as preventing hazardous materials like mercury from contaminating habitats and waterways. When mercury-containing lights are disposed of into landfill, the mercury can …

International E-waste Day aims to boost awareness of recycling electronics

With about 50 million tonnes of e-waste generated globally, International E-waste Day is an important day to spread the word about recycling old electronics. More than 110 organisations from 48 countries took part in the latest International E-waste Day to shine a light on e-waste and encourage the public to recycle more. E-waste is made up of a range of products from personal devices such as smartphones to household appliances like white goods and air conditioners. The International E-…

Six months on, how is Victoria’s e-waste ban faring?

More than 75 waste transfer and recycling sites across Victoria have been upgraded for e-waste collection and storage since the state’s e-waste ban started last year. The Victorian government has already committed $10.6 million to helping local governments upgrade e-waste collection services through the first round of the e-waste infrastructure support program, according to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. The e-waste ban began last July, and includes anything with …

Why recycling lighting waste in Australia is so important

Did you know that the mercury contained in one fluorescent tube can pollute 30,000 litres of water beyond a safe level of drinking? This statistic alone should encourage everyone to recycle their lighting waste, and yet 95 per cent of mercury-containing lamps are still sent to landfills in Australia. The millions of used light bulbs that end up in landfill are dreadful for the environment, but we can turn this around by recycling lighting waste and urging others to do the same. Here are…

What is the future of lighting waste?

The future of lighting waste is looking brighter as light bulbs become greener and smarter, however we still have a long way to go. In Australia, millions of light bulbs are discarded into the rubbish bin and eventually end up in landfill every year. In fact, authorities estimate 95 per cent of mercury-containing lamps are still sent to the garbage tip despite free recycling programs that operate across the country. Fortunately, there are positive steps being taken as people switch to m…

Why do we recycle e-waste?

With new electronic devices becoming cheaper and more widely available, the need to recycle electronic waste, also known as e-waste, has never been more important. E-waste is more than just old mobile phones and televisions — it includes anything that plugs into a power point or runs on batteries and has reached the end of its useful life. E-waste includes broken items, as well as obsolete products that have been replaced by newer models. The rapid growth in electronics technology has s…

How to safely dispose of mercury-containing lamps

With millions of mercury-containing lamps and light bulbs dumped in landfill every year, recycling old lamps and lighting waste has never been more important. Mercury-containing lamps include small compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) fitted in homes, fluorescent tubes often found in offices and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps used for streetlights. Mercury-containing lamps are the single largest category of products with mercury, according to the Department of the Environment and Energy.…

Emotional attachment, frugality hinders e-waste recycling in Australia

Australians are holding onto electronic waste rather than recycling it because they’re thrifty and have emotional attachments to old devices. Frugality and attachment were the main reasons people kept old electronics at home, according to new research conducted by Monash University. The research, which involved 650 people across three studies, showed at least half of the participants owned two or more computers, while 16 per cent owned at least four. Electronic waste (e-waste) has grown…

How to promote recycling in the workplace

Workplaces are taking recycling more seriously these days, but successful recycling programs hinge on staff engagement and making it as simple as possible. Companies and organisations, big and small, are implementing their own recycling activities to recover reusable materials and reduce what ends up in landfill. These efforts are not only good for the environment, they also save businesses money and give them an edge in attracting new customers and retaining staff. That said, effective…

How can I recycle electronics?

Televisions, computers and smartphones keep us entertained and connected, but our appetite for electronics is creating some serious waste and recycling challenges. Australians love their electronic devices, with almost nine in ten Australians owning a smartphone and 76 per cent of us owning a laptop, according to a 2018 Deloitte survey. But old and broken electronic devices have become a big problem for the environment, with Australia becoming one of the leading e-waste generators in the w…

What do smart lights mean for the future of lighting recycling?

Switching to smart lights is important for the future of recycling, slashing the amount of energy used on lighting while improving our environmental footprint. Smart lights use light emitting diodes (LEDs) and have been widely welcomed in homes and workplaces for their technological features like remotely turning on the lights on, via a mobile phone or voice assistant, and adjusting brightness. While these tech shortcuts are fun and useful, smart lights really shine when it comes to energy…

Victorian electronic waste (e-waste) ban in full swing

Victoria’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is keeping a close watch as the state’s ban on dumping electronic waste into landfill recently came into effect. The e-waste ban means anything with a plug, battery or power cord that is no longer working or wanted must be taken to a council or business collection point rather than thrown into your household bin. The state’s environmental watchdog has been visiting e-waste collectors to make sure e-waste has been handled safely and secure…

How do I recycle a MacBook, notebook and laptop computers?

When it’s time to upgrade your MacBook, notebook or other laptops, you can do your part for the environment by recycling it in a few easy steps. Whether your old battery has finally died, or you just need an upgrade, there comes a time when we have to dispose of our ageing laptops. In the past, many laptops have ended up in the general waste bin and taken to landfill, contributing to Australia’s growing electronic waste problem. E-waste is one of the fastest growing forms of waste in th…

How to recycle a fluorescent lamp

Fluorescent lamps are found in our homes, workplaces and public spaces, yet most of these lights end up in landfill even though they can be recycled. Authorities estimate 95 per cent of mercury-containing lamps are sent to landfill in Australia these days despite free recycling programs that run across the country. One of the big reasons to recycle fluorescent lamps is that they contain highly toxic mercury. While there is only a small amount of mercury in each light, the huge volumes o…

How do I recycle smart lights?

Homeowners and businesses are increasingly choosing energy-efficient smart LED lights over regular bulbs, but how do you discard them once they’re done? Smart lights are light emitting diode (LED) bulbs typically controlled by a smartphone app, which can remotely switch them on and off, adjust the brightness and other handy actions. These lights have become a popular option in homes and workplaces, as part of the Internet of Things (IoT) wave to link everyday devices to the internet and ea…

Victorian state-wide ban on e-waste starts in July 2019

As Victoria’s electronic waste ban takes effect next month, the State Government has committed $16.5 million to help local councils prepare for the move. A state-wide ban on discarding e-waste into landfill will take effect from July 1, requiring residents and businesses to discard old electronic devices at dedicated collection points. E-waste covers all electronic waste – anything with a plug, battery or cord that is at the end of its useful life, including old mobile phones, computers, w…

Can I recycle LED light bulbs?

LED light bulbs can be recycled just like other lighting waste however, these energy-efficient bulbs have to be discarded correctly to reap the benefits. While LED, or light-emitting diode, bulbs are made of non-renewable materials like glass and aluminium, these resources can be recovered through recycling and then reused in new products. LED lighting can be disposed of in the rubbish bin, but it’s better for the environment to check with your council if LED lamps can be recycled and wher…

How do I recycle old printers?

Printers are upgraded more often nowadays to keep up with new models, but what should you do with your old machine once you’re finished with it? Used printers, like most electronic and electrical devices, can be recycled today despite many old machines still ending up in land fill. With Victoria’s e-waste ban coming into effect from 1 July 2019, printers should not be discarded in general waste bins. Australia faces a serious e-waste challenge, and is one of the top five biggest produce…

Ecocycle acts to ensure integrity of Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program

To retain integrity and help prevent fraudulent activity, Ecocycle will issue digital signatures for VEU and ESS recycling certificates. The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program* (formerly called the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target, or VEET) is a scheme in which ‘accredited persons’ replace energy-inefficient products with more efficient ones in homes and non-residential premises. They are then able to create a number of Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) that reflect t…

5 benefits of recycling mercury-containing waste

Recycling mercury-containing waste goes a long way in protecting the environment, but did you know that there are additional benefits? Mercury is found in some surprising places around the home and workplace, including batteries, lighting, computers, televisions and even teeth fillings. While the mercury in these products are safely contained for everyday use, even a small amount of the toxic material can have a destructive impact when it is dumped in landfill. The mercury-recycling mov…

How to dispose of mercury-containing light bulbs

When fluorescent tubes and other mercury-containing lights burn out, there are some simple steps to safely dispose of them. Fluoro tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CPLs) contain small amounts of mercury and are commonly found in homes and workplaces. While there are only tiny quantities of mercury in each light, the millions of fluorescent tubes and CFLs tossed in the bin each year constitute the largest source of mercury bound for Australian landfill. So when bulbs stop working and…

5 benefits of recycling e-waste

Vast quantities of phones, appliances and other electronic waste (e-waste) end up in landfill every day, even though most of it can be recycled. E-waste can be anything that is no longer needed and plugs into a power point or runs on batteries, including old televisions, refrigerators, lighting and even hearing aids. Australia is one of the world’s biggest producers of e-waste, so every effort to recycle electronic waste at home and work helps. Here are five advantages of recycling e-wa…

UN, global authorities come together to tackle e-waste

Upgraded recycling programs, better designed devices and more buy-back schemes are needed to tackle the rising tide of e-waste globally, according to a new report. Several United Nations bodies, the World Economic Forum, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) have come together to advocate for an overhaul of the current electronics landscape in the new report, A New Circular Vision for Electronics. The call to action comes as 50 million tonnes of electronics and…

How do I recycle old power tools?

Power tools make up a substantial portion of Australia’s electrical and electronic waste (e-waste). Traditionally they’ve ended up in landfill at the end of their working lives, but with states rolling out bans on the dumping of e-waste in landfill, power tool owners will need to find new ways to dispose of old tools. The only viable (and, in the long term, legal) method of disposing of power tools will be to recycle them. A typical power tool mostly contains aluminium, steel, copper and p…

5 benefits of recycling lighting

Every year many millions of incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LED lamps get dumped into landfills around Australia. That contributes to a number of major problems, all of which can be avoided by recycling old lighting. Here are five main benefits of recycling: 1. Keep harmful materials out of the environment Possibly the greatest lighting waste hazard is the mercury contained in fluoro tubes, CFLs and vapour lamps. When disposed of into lan…

How a workplace e-waste recycling program can save your business money

E-waste is the fastest growing category of waste, fuelled by our insatiable appetite for the latest gadget and the sheer ubiquity of electrical and electronic equipment. E-waste is something that every business needs to deal with but, in too many cases, the e-waste policy of the corporate sector is simply to dump it in a hole in the ground. Fortunately, attitudes are changing, and it isn’t just the environment that benefits. E-waste recycling can also save businesses money. Here’s how: …

How a workplace lighting recycling program can save your business money

A small fraction of Australia’s lighting waste gets recycled each year. Historically, the generators of lighting waste have simply dumped the problem into landfill, but when businesses opt for the dump, they could be missing out on an opportunity to reap some significant short and long-term savings. Here’s how a workplace lighting recycling program can save your business money: 1. Reduced immediate costs Most state and territory governments have introduced landfill levies that have incre…

What is e-waste? A definitive guide to understanding electrical waste and how it is recycled

E-waste: It stands for electrical and electronic waste, and it’s usually defined as anything that plugs into a power point or runs on batteries and that has reached the end of its useful life. That doesn’t mean something is broken; it may just be technologically obsolete. Some people expand the definition of e-waste to include related items such as video cassettes and floppy disks – things that depend on electrical equipment to function. With such a broad definition, it’s clear that e-w…

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