Take Back the Light has evolved from two pilot programs run by the Recycling Council of Ontario in 2005 and 2007. These pilots were supported by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

These efforts focused on recovering safely and recycling fluorescent lamps which burn out on a regular basis. The pilot programs collected and recycled more than 20,000 lamps and demonstrated how working with distributors through a reverse take-back system (they collect spent lamps when delivering new ones) can significantly reduce the costs typically associated with lamp recycling.

Following the success of these pilots, the Recycling Council of Ontario has been working to develop a broader program to recycle the more than 30 million spent fluorescent lamps that end up in Ontario’s landfills each year. To this end, the RCO engaged Summerhill Group, Canada's leader in the development and implementation of market transformation programs. The Summerhill Group runs the highly successful Switch Out and Switch the Stat mercury recycling programs across Canada.