Tips to Encourage Consumer Recycling

Our research has shown that 45 per cent of people would be likely to throw their old energy efficient light bulbs in the bin if recycling requires significant personal effort. By making light bulb recycling as simple as possible we can help to ensure this hazardous waste stream does not end up in landfill.

As important as making the facilities available, we also need to ensure people are aware of the need to recycle and how they can go about doing so.

Raising recycling awareness for low energy light bulbs

Last year 130 million energy-saving light bulbs were sold in the UK and according to our research the vast majority of the population (88%) now has at least one in their home. Although they have a long life, over the next few years we will see an increase of the number of energy-saving light bulbs needing to be recycled. Currently only two out of five householders know that these bulbs need to be recycled.

When communicating recycling messages to your local community please ensure you include guidance on the importance of recycling energy-saving light bulbs.

Publicising your CFL recycling bank

Currently just over one quarter of the population know that they should take their used energy-saving light bulbs to a specialist recycling facility. Just under half of the population wouldn’t know how to dispose of their old energy-saving light bulb or would simply throw it in the normal household waste.

In order to ensure as many light bulbs as possible are brought back for recycling please ensure that you publicise your Recolight collection point to your local community. Our team are happy to provide support, please contact Magdalen Bush at APCO Worldwide on 020 7526 3606.

Suggested activity to raise recycling awareness

These are just some of the ways you can promote your collection facilities and help raise awareness of the importance of recycling energy-saving light bulbs in your community:

• Issue a press release to the local media announcing the availability of the collection point.
• Organise a ‘launch event’ with a prominent local ‘celebrity’, mayor or MP who can be invited to take part in a photo opportunity which will help to generate media interest in the story.
• Publicise the collection point on community websites and newsletters.
• Include information about energy-saving light bulb recycling in community updates on recycling.
• Communicate details of the light bulb recycling initiative within the council.