forMERCURY LIGHTS & CARPET

Kara J. StewardWaste 2 Resources

Ecology

More efficient Longer lasting Lower power

demand Cheaper than

LED Incandescent

phase out

Don’t throw them in the trash!

Source: NEWMOA at www.newmoa.org

CFL contains 3-5 mg of mercury Estimated 300 million CFLs sold in US

each year = 1,500 kg mercury (= 1.6 tons)

Mercury from one broken CFL Releases 200–800 μg/m3 mercury Contaminate 1,000 gallons of

waterwww.ecy.wa.gov/mercury/mercury_bulb_cleanup.html

Don’t throw mercury lights in the trash!!!!

Local government collection MRW, HHW

State agencies recycle Gov Locke Executive Order 04-

01 responsible purchasing Take back programs

Retailers (Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, McLendons, Bartells)

Utilities (PSE and PUDs) Curbside collection

(Kent/Shoreline) Producer mail back

Stewardship Program “Producers” = sell in or into

WA Finance the program, including Collection Transportation Recycling Public education Fund Ecology oversight Program starts January 2013

Disposal Ban Jan 2013 RCW 70.275

Stewardship Program Residential lights only

Homes, small businesses Convenient collection

Every county Every city >10,000

No charge for drop off Limited to 15 lights in 90

days Other options

Mail-back program Curbside collection (Shoreline,

Kent) RCW 70.275

Collect producer fees Write guidelines for plan content Approve Producer Plans Register collectors, curbside &

mail-back programs Work with stakeholders (that’s

you!)

Get the word out: websites, newsletters, meetings, presentations

Register for the Listserv

▪ Public▪ Recyclers ▪ Retailers ▪Utilities

You will receive updates on program progress and

opportunities to participate!

▪Collectors▪Government▪Haulers▪ Producers

Nationally 27 million tons disposed annually (1.2% of

MSW) Recycling rate is 3% (2009)

Washington 145,000 tons disposed annually (3.2% of

MSW) 7th most prevalent item in waste stream (by

weight )

Recycling rate is 2% (2009)

2002 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

22 States and Carpet Industry Diversion goal of 40% Actual recycling rate to date: 3%

Led by Seattle Public Utilities & King County

Multi-stakeholder process to increase carpet recycling in the region

Strategy document points to product stewardship

Environmental impact study Recycling preferred choice Reduces GHG emissions

US carpet recyclers

CaliforniaAssembly Bill 2398Signed into law Sept 2010First and only in the countrySupported by the carpet industryProgram in place Jan 2012

Senate Bill 5110 Introduced by Senator Kohl-WellesOriginal draft based on CA’s lawRequired carpet manufacturers fund

a statewide recycling program Introduced 2011Reintroduce in 2012

Carpet

Shannon.McClelland@ecy.wa.gov

360. 407.6398