Reverse light bulb vending machines have been introduced in the Middle East.
The environmental and waste management company Bee’ah have installed these Reverse Vending Machines which are designed to collect and recycle light bulbs. The machines were supplied by UK-based Reverse Vending Corporation reVend. UAE is only the second country in the world to install these, with the UK being the first.
The UAE are aiming to ‘build a greener, more sustainable future’ which is why they are banning non energy efficient light bulbs and using these reverse vending machines to recycle light bulbs and batteries.
In recent years, with the amount of untreated waste, recycling solutions for the lighting industry have grown in importance. Especially since used light bulbs often end up in landfills and can be hazardous as some light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury. ‘The light bulb recycling machines from reVend will help increase the UAE’s recycling rates, keep hazardous waste out of the nation’s landfills and help companies meet their environmental performance targets.’
Each of the light bulbs is recognized by the machine’s Video Recognition Technology: from there, an easy-to-follow touch screen menu helps to guide the recycler through their ‘eco-journey’. Once the user completes the recycling process, they receive a reward usually in the form of a discount voucher. Through the machine, recyclers will have the option of donating their loyalty points to charity or receive a discount voucher.
The machines are currently available in IKEA but should become available in more places throughout the UK. The reVend® Light Bulb Recycling machine won Reverse Vending and IKEA the coveted “Gold winner” Green Apple Environment Award for Service Industries Innovation.Reverse Vending Corporation and IKEA’s “Recycle and Reward” projects went on to win the Scottish Gold Green Apple Award and also the “Young Recycler of the year 2013” for Zero Waste Scotland’s Ross Burns.
CEO of Bee’ah, Khaled Al Huraimel, said:
We are honoured to be joining forces with reVend – an industry leader in reverse vending design and innovation – to help to diminish the hazardous effects of waste on both human health and the environment. The introduction of these ground-breaking Reverse Vending Machines is set to help Bee’ah further advance its goal by achieving zero-waste to landfill in Sharjah – an objective which will catapult the emirate into the Environmental Capital of the Middle East and make it the first Arab city ever to divert 100% of its waste from landfill.
Managing Director of reVend, Carol Hall, said: “We are pleased to have formed a strategic partnership with Bee’ah to bring new, state-of-the-art reVend ‘Reverse Vending’ Technologies to the Middle East. reVend has over 28 years of reverse vending experience: we invented the very first Reverse Vending Recycling Machines for domestic light bulbs. Now, we are proud to say that these machines will be exclusive to Bee’ah across the Middle East – a top, award winning integrated environment and waste management company.”
Reverse Vending Corporation contacted Lightbulbs Direct Ltd to acquire samples of every type of Domestic Light Bulb sold in Europe. Lightbulbs Direct Ltd are proud to be part of the history of the development of a unique high tech recycling technology. Lightbulbs Direct is the UKs leading online retailer for Light Bulbs, LED Bulbs, Fluorescent tubes, Energy Saving Bulbs, Halogen Light Bulbs and many more.
If you are purchasing a new light bulb or lighting product from Lightbulbs Direct, we will recycle your old lighting product for free.
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