“CFLs are a fantastic, money-saving technology; 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.” – State Representative and Majority Whip Seth Berry
On June 8th, Governor John Baldacci officially signed law LD973 into Maine. Law LD973 requires manufacturers of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) to create collection and recycling programs. These programs are necessary in order to safely dispose of CFL lighting fixtures:
“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.”
When it comes to CFL lights, not all CFLs are created equal, for some contain more mercury than others. Hopefully with Maine’s new legislation, consumers will not only have more knowledge as to which CFL light bulbs contain more mercury than others but also make better informed decisions regarding the quality of a manufacturer’s product. Well done Maine!
