Last year, LightRec has taken major steps in order to expand the infrastructure for collecting broken lamps from retailers and technical wholesalers. Today, the majority of these technical wholesalers, DIY stores, garden centres and supermarkets provide Wecycle collection containers. It means that a 100% coverage in retail is in sight. But despite all the efforts invested by us and our chain partners, and even though infrastructure is outstanding, the amount of lamps collected remains approximately 35%.

In 2015, consumers and professional users turned in 3600 tons of lamps and luminaires for recycling purposes, indicating that collection rates are steady. Slightly fewer luminaires were disposed of and just like in previous years, most lamps were discarded by the professional sector.

Bearing in mind the exponential rise particularly of the number of LED lamps sold, LightRec believes that the number of fluorescent tubes and CFLs disposed of will climb in the future. In a nutshell: all parties are willing to cooperate and the infrastructure is ready. But it is up to consumers and professionals to get rid of as many lamps and luminaires as they possibly can.

Shooting moving targets
LightRec intends to realise its ambitions as efficiently and effectively as possible. We will continue to focus on the professional sector, which has the greatest market potential. And yet, we realise only too well that we have been shooting moving targets as sales volumes and collection streams will continue to shift. Therefore, we have every reason to continue to invest in awareness and attention for separate collection right down the line and in all market segments.

A healthy financial situation
LightRec is in good financial shape. The collecting and processing costs have climbed, particularly due to lower income from residual materials and after expanding the collection network through retail, but also because of persistent collection from municipalities and fitters. These additional costs are offset by pushing down the operational and marketing expenses.

Lamps recycled in European context: EucoLight
In 2015, Stichting LightRec joined the European association known as EucoLight which was called into existence only recently. It unites 16 European collection and recycling organisations for lighting managing the recycling process in their own countries. EucoLight is representing these organisations in Brussels, making sure to substantiate cooperation within the sector at European level.

Campaigns and information
On behalf of LightRec, Wecycle has been organising information campaigns and collection programmes in order to encourage consumers as well as professionals to deliver their broken lamps, luminaires and fluorescent tubes appropriately. In 2015, Wecycle once again succeeded in spotlighting lamp collection in an original manner.

Moving into high gear
Despite all the efforts made, targets have not been reached. They are laid down in the Universal Binding Declaration. LightRec would like to join European legislation the purpose of which is to collect and recycle 65% of all released lamps and fixtures in the year 2019. Hence, there is a lot of work to be done in order to move into high gear.