At Recupel, we make it easy for consumers to hand in their broken light bulbs and old electricals
For businesses, schools and other organisations, we provide a free Pick-up collection service. We also help manufacturers and importers collect and process discarded electricals in accordance with all legal requirements. We work with governments, recycling centres, retailers, intermunicipal organisations and second-hand stores to ensure all this is done as effectively as possible.
Circular economy
Why do we do all this? To make sure as few harmful substances as possible from discarded electrical appliances or electronic devices end up in nature, while at the same time helping push the case for taking fewer of our scarce resources out of nature. As such, we are keen advocates of the circular economy.
In the circular economy, manufacturers need to use fewer new raw materials as they are able to reuse old raw materials, e.g. by removing and reusing valuable raw materials from broken electricals. But repairing electricals or giving them a second life through second-hand stores is also a way of saving on resources – and thus incurring less waste.
Recycling pays off
Did you know that some electrical appliances and electronic devices contain rare earth metals like gold, silver, cobalt, copper, nickel or palladium? Others, lawnmowers for example, are made of valuable raw materials such as plastic, iron, copper and aluminium. Processing plants can recycle up to 90% of all this, making it a true win-win for the environment and society!
Find out more about urban mining.
Recupel facts
- We are a non-profit organisation, founded in 2001 and active throughout Belgium.
- We work with a team of 32 enthusiastic professionals.
- Recupel has more than 4,000 members: manufacturers and importers of electrical appliances, electronic devices and light bulbs.
- In 2022, the Belgian public handed in over 120,000,000 kg of discarded electricals and light bulbs to Recupel: that's 41 million electricals and 8.6 million light bulbs.
- In 2022, 3,818,805 kg of household electricals were given a second life through second-hand stores and reuse centres.
- Did you know that, on average, Recupel is able to recycle 90% of materials recovered from old electricals?
Want more facts?
What can you collect through Recupel?
Anything powered by electricity or batteries, or fitted with a plug or socket.
Light bulbs
Light bulbs contain mercury, which is why they are classified as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). Be careful not to break them, and take them to your local recycling centre, to a Recupel collection point in a store or leave them with whichever retailer you choose to buy new light bulbs from.
Recupel recycles both discharge light bulbs (energy-saving bulbs and tube bulbs) and LED bulbs.
Electricals
It's simple: if you have any broken electricals with a plug or connector, you can make sure they get properly recycled via Recupel. If they still work, on the other hand, take them to your nearest second-hand store. Even if they're broken but still repairable, you can give them a second life.
If you still aren't sure, you can search for the best solution via this link
