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INDUSTRIAL LIGHTING
FLUOROCYCLE SCHEME
The national FluoroCycle scheme seeks to increase the
recycling rate of mercury-containing lamps. One of the
drivers for establishing the scheme was the Australian
Government’s international obligations arising from
the Minamata Convention on Mercury. FluoroCycle
was developed in consultation with Australia’s lighting
industry and other key stakeholders. The scheme was
initially funded by the Council of Australian Governments
(COAG) Standing Council on Environment and Water, but
is now fully funded by Lighting Council Australia.
Around 90% of end-of-life mercury-containing lamps
in Australia currently end up in landfill. Although
the mercury currently used in an individual lamp is
relatively low, it is the widespread use of these lamps
in commercial applications that contributes to the
total volume of mercury released into the environment.
As the majority of end-of-life lamps are generated by
government and industry, the FluoroCycle scheme
does not currently target households. Increasingly
most local governments are offering free household
collection services for mercury-containing lamps.
GOVLINK » ISSUE 3 2016
Commercial organisations are encouraged to become
Signatories to the FluoroCycle scheme and to commit
to recycling at premises over which they have control
and/or to promote the scheme to their tenants or
business networks.
FluoroCycle is part of the National Waste Policy and
is covered under the Product Stewardship Act 2011.
The Product Stewardship Act 2011 provides the
framework to effectively manage the environmental,
health and safety impacts of products, and in particular
impacts associated with the disposal of products.
The framework includes voluntary, co-regulatory and
mandatory product stewardship.
The Hon Greg Hunt MP, then Minister for the
Environment, officially announced the accreditation of
the FluoroCycle scheme at the Sydney Opera House (a
FluoroCycle Signatory) in September 2014.
Lighting Council Australia works closely with the
national lamp recyclers and collectors in promoting