When broken, mercury-containing lights, such as compact-fluorescent lamps and linear fluorescent tubes, release mercury, a potent neurotoxin, into the air and environment, when improperly disposed of. Due to the hazard mercury-containing lights present when broken, handing and ensuring the proper disposal of these lights presents various challenges, and although many of these lights can be recycled, most end up in the landfill. Although many communities in the U.S. already offer disposal programs for mercury-containing lights through their household hazardous waste programs, these programs are quite expensive for local governments to run and collection opportunities are often infrequent and inconvenient for residents. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) can serve as a solution to ensure these mercury-containing lights are responsibly managed at the end-of-life, requiring light manufacturers to design and manage a program to collect, transport, and process these products in an environmentally sound and convenient fashion.
Programs
In 2010, Washington passed SB 5543, an act relating to mercury reduction, creating a manufacturer run, convenient, statewide recycling program for mercury-containing lighting for Washington residents and small businesses. The program, known as LightRecycle Washington, allows Washington residents and small businesses can recycle mercury-containing lights. The program is paid for with an environmental handling charge paid at the point of purchase for every covered mercury-containing light purchased in Washington. LightRecycle Washington is run by PCA Product Stewardship Inc., a nonprofit organization chosen by manufacturers to manage the program, and the program is overseen by the Washington Department of Ecology.
The statewide EPR program for fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and high intensity discharge lights (HIDs) was due to sunset, but the law was amended in 2024. The 2024 amendments include:
- Limits the environmental handling fee paid by consumers;
- Ban most mercury-containing lights by January 1, 2029; and
- Extends the existing product stewardship program for mercury-containing lights to 2035 or earlier, if determined by Ecology.
Resources
Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) – Lighting
About NWPSC
The Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NWPSC) is a coalition of government organizations in Washington and Oregon that work together to develop and improve Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies and programs