Recyling & Environmental Policy

Environmental Policy

At First Light Optics, we continually look for ways to reduce our environmental impact.

Where possible, we reuse packaging and packaging material. For example, we often use shredded, recycled cardboard as an infill material, not foam packing chips. Where we do use packing chips, they are either recycled from supplier deliveries received at our warehouse or are biodegradable chips. Biodegradable chips are made from maize, so they dissolve in water and can be put in your food waste bins. (The foam type is reusable but not recyclable or biodegradable).

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is now UK law. The legislation aims to make producers pay for waste electrical equipment collection, treatment and recovery. The regulations also mean that equipment suppliers like high street shops and internet retailers must allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge. Customers wishing to return WEEE must pay for any transport cost incurred.

The amount of WEEE we throw away is increasing by around 5% each year, making it the fastest-growing waste stream in the UK.

Much of the UK’s WEEE is in landfills, where the lead and other toxins it contains can contaminate soil and water. This can harm natural habitats, wildlife and also human health.

Many electrical items that we throw away can be repaired or recycled. Recycling items helps save our finite natural resources and reduces the environmental and health risks associated with sending electrical goods to landfills.

Distributors of new Electric and Electronic Equipment (EEE) have a part to play in reducing the amount of WEEE going into landfill sites.

At First Light Optics, we are obliged under these regulations to offer our customers free take-back of their WEEE on a like-for-like basis when they buy a new Electrical or Electronic product from us.

For example, if a customer buys a new camera from us, we will accept their old one and prevent it from going into a landfill by safely disposing of it. (Customers must return their WEEE item to us within 28 days of purchasing the new item). 

Under the WEEE Regulations, all new electrical goods should be marked with the above crossed-out wheeled bin symbol.

Goods are marked with this symbol to show that they were produced after 13th August 2005 and should be disposed of separately from normal household waste so that they can be recycled.