Recently whilst shopping at Ikea in Milton Keynes, we noticed an amazing recycling machine for use by their customers. We were that impressed, we wanted to help spread the word of the retailers scheme. The Light Bulb Reverse Vending Machine, as pictured, takes consumers old light bulbs and rewards them for disposing of them in a responsible manner. This “First in the World” invention was created for Ikea by the company Reverse Vending. So how does the machine work?
Using the machine could not be simpler; it’s a 3 step process where the user is guided through by a touch screen display. Firstly you place a light bulb into the machine, once detected, select your recycling reward and the machine prints off a ticket. The rewards available for recycling your bulb are either a free coffee within the store or you can choose to donate 10p to a choice of charities Ikea are working with.
The machine is safe, standalone and easy to use. It has an automated, soft drop system which collects the bulbs into a container reducing the risk of breakages. If there are any bulbs broken in the process it has a mercury fume extractor built it which collects the hazardous fumes into a filter.
Ikea has been manually collecting waste bulbs and batteries for over 10 years as part of its corporate social responsibility as a retailer. They sell lighting and battery operated devices as part of their furniture ranges and thus offers recycling of these goods. The machine also has a drop in box for waste batteries, but the rewards are only given on the bulbs. Both waste streams are then recycled to capture the hazardous components and recycle the materials they are made from.
The reward scheme and the machine itself is a great idea and anything that promotes the responsible recycling of electrical items gets our vote. So if you want to get a reward/donate to charity for disposing of your bulb, take a visit to Ikea. The machine can be located in most UK Ikea stores.
Pure Planet Recycling recycle all types of electrical waste including bulbs and fluorescent light tubes for businesses, collecting from 20 counties in England.