In Ireland, retailers that sell compact fluorescent lamps and tubes are required to offer a free recycling service.
For each bulb or tube purchased, retailers are obliged to accept an equivalent tube or lamp for recycling. As a result, about 30% of fluoro lamps and tubes are recycled in Ireland.
While that’s a lot higher than the estimated 5 – 10% recycling rate in Australia, it’s still not a rate Ireland is happy with.
Aiming For The Other 70%
To lift the fluorescent lamps recycling rate even more, WEEE Ireland has introduced the Great Bulb Exchange.
Now when people recycle fluorescent bulbs via a participating hardware store, they are rewarded with flowering bulbs to plant in their gardens.
It’s The Thought That Counts
WEEE Ireland is the country’s compliance scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment.
It takes an active role in the collection, recovery and recycling of e-waste, as well as rolling out awareness initiatives and campaigns. That’s what the Great Bulb Exchange is all about – a campaign to make people think about what happens to their old fluoro lamps and to encourage them to return them for recycling.
Aside from the incentive of a bit of garden beautification, once the bulbs are in flower they’ll provide an ongoing reminder to recycle fluorescent tubes and bulbs.
Recycling Your Lighting Waste In Australia
While we don’t provide free flowering bulbs in Australia, it’s easy to recycle your bulk fluorescent lamps. For small quantities of household waste visit recyclingnearyou.com.au to find local drop off locations.
If you’ve got bulk lighting waste to recycle, read about our process or call us 1300 32 62 92 or fill out the form below and speak with one of our lighting waste specialists today.
