Council agree to review kerbside bulb recycling

Council managers have agreed to review a previous decision not to introduce kerbside recycling of low energy light bulbs, after pressure from Councillor Neil Harrison (Lib Dem, Cotham Ward).

Councillor Harrison made a statement to the meeting of the Sustainable Development & Transport Scrutiny Commission on 5th June, explaining that low-energy light bulbs contain quantities of mercury which are hazardous to the environment when disposed of in landfill.

Steve Moore, Head of Environmental Services at Bristol City Council, agreed at the meeting that the Council would look again at whether kerbside collections could be introduced in the near future.

Councillor Harrison explains, “The new types of low energy light bulb contain mercury, which is a hazardous material that needs to be dealt with safely. If they are buried in landfill sites, the bulbs smash and the mercury can pass through the ground and into water supplies, causing environmental and health problems. This is also true for the old fashioned fluorescent tubes too.”

“I have estimated that as much as 1 kilogram of mercury a year is currently going into landfill from Bristol. As more homes hopefully switch to low energy bulbs, this amount will rise unless action is taken to ensure that bulbs are disposed of safely. At the moment, the only places you can recycle low energy bulbs is at the Household Recycling Centres at St Phillips and Avonmouth. Very few people are going to remember to do this and have the opportunity to visit easily, so we need kerbside collections, like we have for batteries.”

“When I asked earlier in the year for a kerbside collection service, I was effectively told that the bulbs were too fragile and it wasn’t worth the hassle. I am delighted that the Council is now reconsidering that position.”