Recupel points in retailers
Take your old used light bulbs to one of our blue Recupel collections bins at your local DIY store or supermarket free of charge. These are usually located near the entrance, next to the Bebat battery collection bins. In addition to your LED and energy-saving bulbs, you can also safely dispose of your old incandescent and halogen bulbs there.
There's also a special collection bin for your fluorescent (neon) tubes, also known as TL light bulbs.
What's more, given that they sell new light bulbs themselves, many of these retailers are subject to the legal ‘take-back obligation’. So always remember to return your old light bulbs when you buy new ones.
Find out more about the take-back obligation
At the recycling park
Your used light bulbs can also be deposited in the Recupel point intended for this, at your local recycling park. That's very handy if you happen to be going there to dispose of other types of waste. So why not take the opportunity to finally empty that box of old light bulbs you’ve been keeping in your cupboard or garage?
What types of light bulbs can be recycled?
LED light bulbs
A LED (Light Emitting Diode) is an electronic component that emits light when an electronic current passes through it. The advantage of LED light bulbs, which are now widespread, is that they last longer and consume less energy than the old incandescent light bulbs, which have been banned from public sale since 2013. On the other hand, they contain toxic substances and must therefore be recycled via a very specific process.
Energy-saving light bulbs
These light bulbs, also known as fluorescent light bulbs, last longer than their old incandescent counterparts, but not as long as LEDs. These bulbs also contain heavy metals, including mercury and fluorescent powder. Our recycling partner in Belgium follows a strict protocol to remove and recycle as many raw materials as possible from used light bulbs.
Fluorescent (or neon) tubes
These fluorescent light bulbs contain just as many harmful substances and are therefore collected in bins specially designed for their larger size.
Incandescent Bulbs
For a long time, the incandescent bulb was the standard light source. However, since 2013, it's no longer allowed to be produced or imported in the EU due to its low efficiency compared to modern light sources like LED bulbs. Despite this, they can still be found on the market because it is permitted to sell existing stock.
Halogen Bulbs
Halogen bulbs are similar to incandescent bulbs but contain iodine or bromine and gas under high pressure. This gives the bulb slightly higher efficiency and a longer lifespan compared to an incandescent bulb, but still far less efficiency than modern alternatives.
Why is it important to recycle light bulbs?
Click here to learn out all about what light bulbs are made of and how we recycle them.