Be Part of Ireland’s Biggest Lightbulb Moment
August 12, 2015
Make Your Garden Grow for Free This Summer with The Great Bulb Exchange
Recycle energy saving CFL bulbs at participating hardware stores for free and get some flower power for your garden
Gardens across Ireland are set to get even brighter this summer with the launch of WEEE Ireland’s latest recycling campaign on behalf of the lighting producers – The Great Bulb Exchange. Whether you are a gardening guru or new to the green scene, The Great Bulb Exchange will give everyone the chance to brighten up their garden while also responsibly recycling their energy saving light bulbs also known as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
At present WEEE Ireland only receive 30% of CFL’s which are placed on to the market for recycling with the missing 2/3 going into general rubbish or being hoarded at home. Almost 3 million waste lamps were collected by WEEE Ireland for recycling in 2014 and this number is set to rise greatly this year if people get on board and recycle for FREE with the Scheme in 2015.
To be part of The Great Bulb Exchange simply bring back your waste CFL/ energy saving bulbs to your local participating Hardware store (Woodie’s, Arro, Homevalue, Expert Hardware & Topline,) and exchange each bulb for a beautiful flowering bulb– FOR FREE.
WEEE Irelands CFL recycling partner in Ireland is Irish Lamp Recycling who provide a nationwide collection and recycling service for all lighting equipment, lamps and components. WEEE Ireland has supported Irish Lamp Recycling’s family run business based in Athy, Co. Kildare since it began in 2005 where they now have 10 employees. This year Irish Lamp Recycling achieved the WEEELABEX certification for the responsible recycling of Lamps which stands for Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Label of Excellence. It is a European certification that sets standards and monitors the processing of Electrical Waste. Irish Lamp Recycling are one of only two lamp recycling facilities in Europe to achieve this standard to date.
Speaking at the launch today, CEO of WEEE Ireland Leo Donovan said, “With The Great Bulb Exchange campaign we hope to further spread the awareness of recycling when it comes to CFL bulbs. It is essential that these bulbs are recycled responsibly and the Lighting Industry in Ireland are delighted to partner with retailers such as Woodie’s, Homevalue, Expert Hardware, Topline and Arro for this campaign and be in a position to reward people for their valued recycling efforts. It is our hope that The Great Bulb Exchange grows the awareness of recycling when people are changing energy saving bulbs in the home and that these unwanted bulbs end up being recycled and not thrown into the bin.”
An interactive list of Retailers involved in the Great Bulb Exchange can be found on www.bulbexchange.ie. CFLs and other WEEE can also be recycled for free of charge at Local Authority Civic Amenity sites and collection events throughout the country all detailed on www.weeeireland.ie. Recycling electrical waste including CFLs and other lighting equipment ensures responsible management of this waste stream at end of life, removing any potential hazards from the environment and recovering important resources for use again in manufacturing. Information on proper waste CFL management with health and safety guidance notes can be found on www.bulbexchange.ie.
The Great Bulb Exchange is a national lighting initiative managed by WEEE Ireland on behalf of Lighting Europe and Producers of Category 5 Lighting Equipment in Ireland. Available at participating retailers while stocks last.
For more information on The Great Bulb Exchange please log onto: www.bulbexchange.ie
Follow the movement on: #bulbexchange #bulbrecycling