Mercury

Mercury is an extremely toxic substance that can have devastating impacts on human health and wildlife. Mercury builds up in the food chain and our bodies and is passed on to our children.

Mercury is be found in a variety of consumer products and emitted by coal-burning power plants, oil refineries, medical waste disposal facilities, dental offices, and cremation facilities.

Mercury Policies In Washington

• In  2001, WTC convinced the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to target mercury for phase out. Ecology developed an action plan for reducing mercury in consumer products, dental offices, hospitals, and cars; setting up recycling programs for fluorescent light bulbs, button cell batteries, and other mercury-containing products; and testing fish for mercury pollution.

• In 2003, Governor Gary Locke signed the WTC-backed Mercury Reduction and Education Act into law. The law reduces mercury in schools, hospitals, and homes by banning the sale of certain mercury consumer products, and requiring hospitals to develop plans for reducing the use of mercury products.

  It also requires labeling of all mercury-containing light bulbs and prohibits the installation of mercury thermostats unless the manufacturer of the thermostat participates in a thermostat recycling program.

•  In 2005, as part of its mercury reduction plan, Ecology began inspecting dental offices to ensure the offices are properly disposing of mercury amalgam fillings, which are about half mercury by weight. Offices found to be out of compliance have 30 days to comply with the law or face enforcement action.

The state-wide enforcement program is modeled directly on a successful program in King County. By conducting inspections and threatening fines, King County was able to achieve 97% compliance and a 50% reduction in mercury in waste water between 2000 and 2003 (King County 2005).

Ecology credits the legislation and its action plan with reducing mercury emissions by 14,000 pounds between 2003 and 2008. Major sources such as coal burning continue.

• In 2010, Governor Christine Gregoire signed a legislation into law to create a residential recycling program for compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and other lights that contain mercury. The program is funded by a small fee on CFL manufacturers.
  

For more information on mercury phase out activities in Washington state, visit Ecology's website.