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Mercury Legislation
MPA has long recognized the threat of mercury in our environment. This bioaccululative, persistent organic pollutant can cause severe health problems, especially in children.
MPA has worked to ban the use of mercury in certain consumer products and to make sure that those products that do contain the hazardous substance are properly disposed of after their use.
In the recent session, MPA was proud to help pass LD 973, which provides for the proper disposal of compact fluorescent light bulbs. Amounts of mercury can be as low as 1mg and as high as 100mg in these bulbs, based on technology used and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection showed that this mercury can have health impacts on Mainers. If broken in the home, infants and small children are at the greatest risk.
MPA helped engage regular citizens in the legislative process and the bill eventually passed unanimously in the Senate and by 138 to 4 in the House.
Another recent victory on this front was LD 1792, which passed in 2006 and addressed the problem of mercury in old thermostats. Currently, thermostats still hanging on walls in Maine contain over 5,600 pounds of mercury! This important bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop a financial rebate for those people who recycle mercury thermostats. It also sets goals for the collection and recycling of mercury-added thermostats in future years.
Will Pierce, an MPA member from Kittery, offered public testimony before the Natural Resources Committee in support of LD 1792. Will spoke about the bill from the standpoint of an everyday Mainer. In his work, Will interacts with many people who demolish old houses and frequently find mercury added thermostats. He told the members of the committee that a hardworking person spending his or her day demolishing houses might not make the extra effort to recycle a thermostat that has three grams of mercury in it. But, Will added, if workers demolishing homes received a five dollar refund for recycling a thermostat, the equivalent of a free ham sandwich, they might be more likely to take the extra step to eliminate a potential source of mercury pollution. Will’s testimony provided an economic reason for why a refund for people who recycle thermostats makes sense (and he got a good laugh from almost every member of the committee while doing so). The bill passed unanimously and was quickly signed by the Governor.
Join us in the campaign for a cleaner, safer Maine
MPA members meet regularly to plan our environmental campaign. If you'd like to get involved, call Ryan at 990-0672.