CLOSE
CFLs contain mercury, which is especially toxic to fetal and early childhood brain development, and requires them to be properly disposed or recycled. Without proper recycling, bulbs are typically incinerated or landfilled. CFLs are now the fastest growing source of mercury in our environment.
Because the amount of mercury in CFLs varies widely, the new Maine law also requires the state to establish mercury content standards for CFLs by 2012 that mirror standards set by California (see below).
The standard household incandescent light bulb, perfected by Thomas Edison, will be phased out beginning in 2012 as a result of stronger energy efficiency standards required by the Federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Just this week, the Obama Administration announced new, stronger energy efficiency standards for fluorescent tube lamps that light offices, stores, and factories. President Obama’s stricter standards will also phase out most conventional incandescent reflector lamps (the large bright light bulbs often used in recessed lighting) adding to the 2007 efforts to phase out the inefficient standard incandescent light bulb.
This phase-out of incandescent bulbs will result in a huge increase in CFLs as households and businesses replace bulbs with the newer, more efficient CFLs. As more CFLs are used, states are examining ways to ensure they are properly disposed of so that the mercury does not harm the environment and human health.
"CFLs are a fantastic, money-saving technology," said Berry. "With this bill we actually help prevent pollution twice: once by encouraging people to buy CFLs and know they can be safely recycled, and a second time by ensuring the bulb is efficient and can be safely recycled."
In 2007, California enacted legislation, AB1109, sponsored by NCEL participant Assemblyman Jared Huffman that requires manufacturers to reduce the levels of toxic materials in lights, including the amount of mercury in fluorescent lamps. These requirements begin in 2010 and mirror toxicity standards already adopted by the European Union. AB 1109 also requires the California Energy Commission to adopt minimum efficiency standards for lights to reduce statewide electrical energy consumption by not less than 50% from 2007 levels for indoor residential lighting, and by not less than 25% from 2007 levels for indoor commercial and outdoor lighting.
Not all CFLs are created equal, with some containing more mercury than others. The Environmental Working Group has produced a Green Lighting Guide that identifies CFL manufacturers that use the least amount of mercury.
For more information on Maine’s new law, the new Federal standards, CFLs, or mercury, please follow these links:
Related Story from Bangor Daily News: http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/109106.html
Maine CFL Collection/Recycling Law Links
Enacted Bill Text: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/chapters/PUBLIC272.asp
Fact Sheet*: http://www.ncel.net/articles/LD%20973%20SR%20CFL%20Recycling%20FS.doc
Flow Chart on How Law Works*: http://www.ncel.net/articles/LD%20973%20CFL%20Recycling%20Flow%20Chart.FINAL.doc
Supporters of Maine’s Law*: http://www.ncel.net/articles/LD%20973%20Supporters2.doc
Maine State Rep. Seth Berry’s Website with info about the new law: http://www.sethberry.org/
California AB1109: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1101-1150/ab_1109_bill_20071012_chaptered.html
New Federal Standards Links
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Press Release: http://www.aceee.org/press/0906lighting.htm
New Federal Standards: http://www.ncel.net/articles/FedStandards6-29-09.pdf
Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/29/AR2009062904273.html
Environmental Working Groups Green Lighting Guide: http://www.ewg.org/node/27221
*Provided by Natural Resources Council of Maine
![[Get Acrobat Reader]](/globalresources/images/newsmanager/getacro.gif)
| google+ |
Maine First State to Require Manufacturers to Collect and Recycle CFL Bulbs
CFL's Largest Growing Source of Mercury
Jul 06, 2009On June 8, Governor John Baldacci signed into law, LD973, making Maine the first state in the country to require manufacturers of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) to establish collection and recycling programs for those CFLs used in household lighting. The law, sponsored by NCEL participant State Representative and Majority Whip Seth Berry, comes after a two year, ratepayer-funded pilot project established by statute and run by the state that set up voluntary collection sites in various retail stores across Maine. CFLs contain mercury, which is especially toxic to fetal and early childhood brain development, and requires them to be properly disposed or recycled. Without proper recycling, bulbs are typically incinerated or landfilled. CFLs are now the fastest growing source of mercury in our environment.
Because the amount of mercury in CFLs varies widely, the new Maine law also requires the state to establish mercury content standards for CFLs by 2012 that mirror standards set by California (see below).
The standard household incandescent light bulb, perfected by Thomas Edison, will be phased out beginning in 2012 as a result of stronger energy efficiency standards required by the Federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Just this week, the Obama Administration announced new, stronger energy efficiency standards for fluorescent tube lamps that light offices, stores, and factories. President Obama’s stricter standards will also phase out most conventional incandescent reflector lamps (the large bright light bulbs often used in recessed lighting) adding to the 2007 efforts to phase out the inefficient standard incandescent light bulb.
This phase-out of incandescent bulbs will result in a huge increase in CFLs as households and businesses replace bulbs with the newer, more efficient CFLs. As more CFLs are used, states are examining ways to ensure they are properly disposed of so that the mercury does not harm the environment and human health.
"CFLs are a fantastic, money-saving technology," said Berry. "With this bill we actually help prevent pollution twice: once by encouraging people to buy CFLs and know they can be safely recycled, and a second time by ensuring the bulb is efficient and can be safely recycled."
In 2007, California enacted legislation, AB1109, sponsored by NCEL participant Assemblyman Jared Huffman that requires manufacturers to reduce the levels of toxic materials in lights, including the amount of mercury in fluorescent lamps. These requirements begin in 2010 and mirror toxicity standards already adopted by the European Union. AB 1109 also requires the California Energy Commission to adopt minimum efficiency standards for lights to reduce statewide electrical energy consumption by not less than 50% from 2007 levels for indoor residential lighting, and by not less than 25% from 2007 levels for indoor commercial and outdoor lighting.
Not all CFLs are created equal, with some containing more mercury than others. The Environmental Working Group has produced a Green Lighting Guide that identifies CFL manufacturers that use the least amount of mercury.
For more information on Maine’s new law, the new Federal standards, CFLs, or mercury, please follow these links:
Related Story from Bangor Daily News: http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/109106.html
Maine CFL Collection/Recycling Law Links
Enacted Bill Text: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/chapters/PUBLIC272.asp
Fact Sheet*: http://www.ncel.net/articles/LD%20973%20SR%20CFL%20Recycling%20FS.doc
Flow Chart on How Law Works*: http://www.ncel.net/articles/LD%20973%20CFL%20Recycling%20Flow%20Chart.FINAL.doc
Supporters of Maine’s Law*: http://www.ncel.net/articles/LD%20973%20Supporters2.doc
Maine State Rep. Seth Berry’s Website with info about the new law: http://www.sethberry.org/
California AB1109: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1101-1150/ab_1109_bill_20071012_chaptered.html
New Federal Standards Links
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Press Release: http://www.aceee.org/press/0906lighting.htm
New Federal Standards: http://www.ncel.net/articles/FedStandards6-29-09.pdf
Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/29/AR2009062904273.html
Environmental Working Groups Green Lighting Guide: http://www.ewg.org/node/27221
*Provided by Natural Resources Council of Maine
| google+ |