Colombia. An initiative that seeks to implement an environmental management system for light bulb waste, as well as generate the participation of the entire chain belonging to the lighting sector and create citizen awareness, was presented by the Ministerio de Ambiente and the andi business union.
The program, called Lúmina collective, aims to collect those bulbs in disuse and that have ended their useful life through collection points that are located in the main cities of the country.
Initially there will be 30 points in large stores in Bogotá and 12 Medellín, and in the course of next month it is expected to open 70 more points in Cali, Barranquilla and other cities.
According to Florencia Leal del Castillo, director of the Chamber of Appliances of the Andi this group has been working hand in hand with the Government with very good results and it is sought that in the coming years it will be consolidated as an example in Latin America.
The program has so far 74 companies affiliated to the Collective System of Selective Collection and Environmental Management of light bulb waste that as of April 30 have collected 51.6 tons and expects to collect 190, to meet the goal of 240 tons planned at the end of this year.
For his part, Frank Pearl, Minister of the Environment, this effort is of vital importance to conserve water and the environment, because by giving poor management to hazardous waste, such as light bulbs, it is that the basins of rivers and forests are contaminated, given their mercury content.
