Guernsey has been in the news quite often lately for launching innovative environmental programs that are grabbing the attention of the rest of the United Kingdom. Guernsey has some of the higher recycling rates in the United Kingdom and has expanded many of the programs launched nationally. Guernsey recently made the news for expanding the battery recycling initiative launched by the European Union and made into law at the beginning of February. Guernsey also started collecting and processing colored glass, which they then use in a variety of different materials. The most recent announcement will once again put Guernsey ahead of the pack when it comes to recycling. The next item on Guernsey’s green checklist is light bulbs and a recent scheme hopes to once again boost Guernsey’s recycling rates.
Low energy and fluorescent light bulbs are the next items Guernsey hopes to recycle and a recent scheme will help them achieve their goals. Previously many of these light bulbs, which contain harmful mercury, were put into landfills. This can be a major problem as mercury can leech into the soil and eventually contaminate water supplies. The lamps that are collected in Guernsey will then be shipped to the United Kingdom where they will be recovered and recycled. This should be especially useful in the business and commercial sectors which are the biggest users of fluorescent lighting.
The island hopes to get to a fifty percent recycling rate for light bulbs and to continue to launch environmental schemes that make them a leader in the UK.
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