To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice his Department provides to the public on the disposal of spent long-life light bulbs; and what regulatory requirements apply to such disposals. (180246)

Low-energy light bulbs should be disposed of responsibly and advice on their safe disposal has been made available on DEFRA’s public website.

From 1 July 2007, waste compact fluorescent light bulbs (the most common type of energy efficient bulbs) have been subject to the requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. Those who sell items such as energy efficient bulbs must provide information to the public about where they can take waste bulbs and other WEEE. Some retailers will also take them back in store. However, most retailers have funded designated collection facilities—the majority of these are at local authority civic amenity sites. From this point, producers of such equipment fund its transport, treatment and recycling.