Vermont’s statute governing the collection and recycling of mercury-containing lamps (the Act) was signed into law by Governor Peter Shumlin in May 2011. Under § 7152 of the Act, manufacturers of mercury-containing lamps are prohibited from selling a mercury-containing lamp unless they are implementing an approved collection plan, pay a fee to the state, are listed on the Vermont Agency for Natural Resources (ANR) web site as covered by an approved plan, and meet several other requirements. This prohibition became effective July 1, 2012.

Retailers that sell mercury-containing lamps and any municipality are eligible to participate in the program as a collection site. These collection sites are available throughout the state for “covered entities” to dispose of eligible mercury-containing lamps at no charge.

The Act defines a “covered entity” as “any person who presents to a collection facility that is included in an approved plan:
(A) Any number of compact fluorescent mercury-containing lamps; or
(B) 10 or fewer mercury-containing lamps that are not compact fluorescent lamps.”

Useful Links

The Act – 10 V.S.A. Chapter 164A - “An act relating to the collection and disposal of mercury-containing lamps”
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources – Department of Environmental Conservation
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation – Mercury Education & Reduction Campaign
Manufacturers’ Lamp Collection & Recycling Plan

Information For...

Residents
Collection Sites
Manufacturers

Residents
Residents of Vermont that meet the definition of a “covered entity” may dispose of mercury-containing lamps at any collection site throughout the state. Lamp recycling collection sites are becoming increasingly available in many towns and cities at local recycling centers, transfer stations, and a growing number of retail establishments.

Find a recycling location near you http://www.mercvt.org/dispose/lamprecycleproject.htm

Collection Sites
Retailers that sell mercury-containing lamps and municipalities are eligible to participate in the manufacturers’ lamp recycling program as a collection site. There is no charge to participate as a collection site. For details about eligibility, participation requirements, container ordering, promotional materials, and program support, please see the links below.

Municipal Participation Agreement
Municipal Collection Site Container Ordering & Program Support
Retail Participation Agreement
Retail Collection Site Container Ordering & Program Support
Promotional Materials – Window Poster (11” x 17”)
Promotional Materials – Counter Mat (5” x 7”)
Promotional Materials – Postcard (4” x 5”; 2-sided)
Promotional Materials – Bookmark (2” x 6”; 2-sided)

Manufacturers
Under § 7152 of the Act, manufacturers of mercury-containing lamps are prohibited from selling a mercury-containing lamp unless they are implementing an approved collection plan, pay a fee to the state, are listed on the Vermont Agency for Natural Resources web site as covered by an approved plan, and meet several other requirements. This prohibition became effective July 1, 2012. Manufacturers can meet this obligation either independently or through participation in a Stewardship Organization (SO), which the law defines as “an organization, association, or entity that has developed a system, method, or other mechanism which assumes the responsibilities, obligations, and liabilities under this chapter of multiple manufacturers of mercury-containing lamps.”

Unlike similar laws enacted in other states, Vermont’s lamp recycling statute imposes obligations not just on manufacturers of light bulbs, but also on certain retail entities that purchase lamps and present them for sale under their own brand labels. This is captured by the definition of manufacturer (§ 7151) as follows:

“Manufacturer” means a person who:

Whether developed by individual companies or collectively under an SO, a manufacturer’s collection plan must contain the following components:

Manufacturer collection programs will be approved by the state for a period not to exceed five years. The manufacturers must submit a program report annually, however, that provides a description of the program, the number and type of mercury-containing lamps collected and the collection facility from which the lamps were collected, and an estimate of the number of mercury-containing lamps available for collection and the methodology used to develop this number. In addition, every five years the manufacturers must retain an independent third party to audit the program, providing recommendations to the state on ways to increase program efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

The Vermont ANR holds supervisory responsibilities under the statute in that it must approve the manufacturers’ program, oversee the registration of SOs, and ensure public input to the process. The ANR also has discretion under the law to require a manufacturer or a stewardship organization to amend an approved plan.

Certain retailers, as noted above, may qualify as manufacturers under the statute and thus be obligated to participate in collection plans. All retailers, however, are prohibited from selling mercury containing lamps as of July 1, 2012 unless the retailer has reviewed the ANR website to determine that the manufacturer of the mercury-containing lamp is implementing an approved collection plan or participating in an approved SO collection plan.