Lightbulbs
Lightbulbs
Why Recycle Lightbulbs
Recycling light bulbs is crucial for protecting the environment and conserving valuable resources. Many modern bulbs, particularly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and fluorescent tubes, contain small but toxic amounts of mercury and other heavy metals like lead and arsenic. If these bulbs are thrown into regular trash, they often break, releasing these harmful substances into the air and, eventually, into the soil and groundwater. This can contaminate our drinking water and pose serious health risks to humans and wildlife.
Key Program Info
About the Program
The Government of New Brunswick has established the Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 under the Clean Environment Act which introduces a new Extended Producer Responsibility program for lamps (lightbulbs) in New Brunswick. REGULATION 2024-37, effective July 15, 2024, sets out the requirements for the program.
Lamp is defined as “a replaceable light source designed to produce light from electricity, including but not limited to:
a) a fluorescent tube;
b) a compact fluorescent lamp;
c) a high-intensity discharge lamp;
d) an incandescent lamp;
e) a light-emitting diode lamp.”
As the agency responsible for designated materials, Recycle NB will oversee the lamp program in New Brunswick. Under REGULATION 2024-37, no producer shall sell, offer for sale or distribute a lamp to a person in the Province on or after October 31, 2024, unless the producer is registered with Recycle NB.
Producers may choose a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to operate a recycling program for lamps on their behalf. The PRO will be required to submit a stewardship plan for the collection and management of lamps throughout New Brunswick by December 31, 2024.
