Compact fluorescent light bulbs and fluorescent tubes contain mercury, which is a potent neurotoxin and a threat to public health when the bulbs are broken.
Kara Steward with ecology says it’s unsafe to discard burnt-out fluorescent lights in the trash, and it's also illegal beginning January 1.
The new program will allow consumers to safely and easily recycle their burned-out lights at no cost beginning next year.
The recycling program will be paid for by producers of fluorescent lights, and will allow consumers to recycle the lights in many of the places where they are sold.
Ecology adopted the rules in order to carry out the state’s mercury-containing lights product stewardship law passed in 2010.
