Recolight, the WEEE compliance provider, has implemented a system for recovering the rare earth minerals from Gas Discharge Lamps (GDLs) and making them available to lamp producers.

In recent years, shortages of rare earth materials, which are used to make the phosphor coatings in lamps, have led to price fluctuations in the lamp market which manufacturers have had to pass on to their clients. The amount of rare earths used in the manufacture of phosphors is second only to that used in magnets.

Alex Hawkins, operations manager of Recolight said: “This is a real step forward for Recolight and its members. The scarcity of rare earths has been a real concern to the lighting industry. Implementing this new system will benefit our members and help to ensure a sustainable future for the industry.”

More than half of the phosphor used in linear fluorescent and compact fluorescent products is derived from rare earths with as many as five different rare earth elements used to create white light, including yttrium, europium, lathanum, cerium and terbium. Phosphors containing cerium, europium and terbium are widely used in the coatings of blue LED chips to create a white light. Rare earth-based phosphors are also used to improve the balance of light produced by metal halide lamps.

Recolight has a membership of more than 120 producers and importers of lamps. These include founder members Philips Lighting, Osram, GE Lighting and Havells-Sylvania.