Yesterday (Wednesday 16 February), Councillor Feryal Demirci, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, officially opened a new recycling scheme at Martel Place, E8, providing low energy light bulb recycling facilities to people in the borough.

In partnership with recycling specialist Recolight, Hackney Council is the first in London to offer this completely free collection service to local residents.

The specially designed collection containers, where anyone can recycle their old energy-saving light bulbs, are available at five public on-street recycling sites around the borough:
•Chatsworth Road (outside Rushmore Primary), E5
•Lordship Road (near Lordship Terrace), N16
•Old Street (outside Shoreditch Fire Station), EC1
•Martel Place (off Dalston Lane), E8
•Well Street (opposite Orchard Primary), E9

All low energy light bulbs collected will be sent for recycling at approved treatment facilities.

Launching the scheme, Councillor Demirci, said: “Most local authorities have a household waste and recycling site or similar solution for disposing of their residents’ old bulbs. In Hackney we don’t have this kind of facility so these containers from Recolight will provide a much needed service and support our commitment to continue reducing and recycling waste in the borough.”

Announcing the partnership, Recolight CEO Nigel Harvey said; “This is an important and exciting partnership which will open up vital new channels for the public to recycle their old low-energy light-bulbs. People want to recycle their old bulbs but are often unsure of where the nearest facilities are. These containers will be visible to thousands of consumers every week, and we hope that this will help make a difference to recycling in the local area.”