Senate Passes Bill to Reduce Mercury in Light Bulbs

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I - Schenectady) announced that he and his colleagues in the New York State Senate recently passed legislation that prohibits the sale of light bulbs that contain high levels of mercury – a known hazardous chemical. The bill (S7004) would protect the environment and public health by reducing the amount of mercury that ends up in homes and the waste stream.

The Federal Government is working to move consumers away from incandescent light bulbs, which is a good way to save energy, but it can also present a new hazard in the waste stream if those bulbs are not limited in the amount of mercury they can contain. This legislation details the amount of mercury to be allowed in fluorescent lamps, and normal lifetime and long lifetime bulbs.