I am involved with starting a province-wide extended producer responsibility program for residential fluorescent light bulbs. I was wondering if anyone had done some research on the barriers and benefits for returning the light bulbs to collection points. Also if anyone has experience with which communication methods and messages may be most effective.
Any input is appreciated.
Sue Maxwell
Ecoinspire
Canada
Fluorescent Light Recycling
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Hi Sue,
EcoSuperior has a successful collection program here in Thunder Bay. If you would like more information, feel free to contact Jane at [email protected].
Karen Copeland
Program Co-ordinator
EcoSuperior Environmental Programs
Canada
Home Depot has a program to collect compact flourescent bulbs at all of their stores- you might want to look at a corporate tie-in to your program.
Also, I know that a few military bases in Alberta were collecting all their flourescent bulbs, extracting the mercury and selling both the mercury and the coated glass. The glass went to companies that make the reflective paint for road lines and signs. No point in designing a collection program without looking at the future markets for the materials.
Susan Low
Coordinator, Environmental Projects
Defence Construction Canada
Canada
Some of the Victorian (Aust) Regional Waste Management Groups are involved in what is known as the "Blinky Bulb" campaign. For more info visit: http://www.blinkybulb.com.au/
Good luck.
Andrea
Andrea Clifford
Mildura Regional Waste Management Group
Australia
Hi Sue
We have recently started a take back programme by enlisting some of the key suppliers in the region like hardware chains and one supermarket (so far). With the support of the recycling company, who produce free-standing recycling boxes for CFLs, each store has been provided with their first box free on the basis that if they are happy with the way the first one goes they then pay for subsequent boxes (each box holds about 250 bulbs, at a cost of around 50c a bulb). We promoted it through the media and local government websites and also developed a colourful poster to be used with the boxes. It's early days yet (only a few months into this) but initial results are that people seem to be getting the idea. It's also clear that the boxes need managing to prevent the build up of other materials like till receipts, so getting key store staff on side is going to be crucial.
Be interested in finding out how you get on and if anyone else has good programmes in place.
Regards
Barbara
Barbara Hammonds
Taranaki Regional Council
New Zealand
...
GLOBE (Green Light on a Better Environment) located in Toronto has just completed a bulb exchange program for all social housing in Toronto, where we removed incandescent bulbs and replacement them with equivalent cfl bulbs.
Perhaps we can be of assistance.
Elsie Harvey
Stakeholder Relations Consultant
GLOBE (Green Light on a Better Environment )
Canada