Mercury Lighting Recycling Bill Passed!

The Washington Legislature passed a bill, EESB 5543, which requires lightbulb manufacturers to finance a statewide recycling program for lights containing mercury, including compact florescent light (CFLS). The producer-pays aspect of this bill is based on product stewardship. The recycling program will take effect on January 1st, 2013. For more detail, see press releases from King County and Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation and Northwest Energy Coalition.

Mercury Content Labelling Proposed

Environmentalists laud proposed Amendment 541 of the ENVI Committee report for providing targeted consumer safety labeling for methylmercury in fish for pregnant women and children in the European Union.  Amendment 541 adds labeling of the mercury content in meat from large predatory fish or foodstuffs containing meat from these fish species.  The amendment would read: “contains methylmercury- not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, women who might become pregnant, and children” and be added immediately after the list of ingredients. In absence of a list of ingredients, the statement would accompany the name of the food. The first reading vote on this amendment will be held next week.