Mercury-filled light bulb disposal soon to be federally regulated

Canadian lawmakers who have encouraged consumers to buy compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) for years, will soon set out rules for how to dispose of them.

CFLs last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and use less electricity. But, inside each twisty tube is toxic mercury powder that can pollute huge quantities of water.

Mercury is so potent, that the amount found in a single household medical thermometer 0.5 grams could contaminate more than seven Olympic-sized swimming pools, containing 22.5 million litres of water.

CFLs each contain three to five milligrams of mercury powder; fluorescent tubes contain up to 12 mg.

'What we're doing right now just isn't working'

"I think everyone can agree that what we're doing right now just isn't working," said Darren Fisher, the MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour."All of these light bulbs are currently going in the garbage."

He said the CFLs end up in landfills, shatter and release mercury into the ecosystem.

Fisher has introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons, to create a national strategy for the safe disposal of CFLs.

No national framework

Until now, any rules for diverting the mercury-filled lights from landfills have come from a patchwork of municipal bylaws and provincial directives.

British Columbia and Nova Scotia are leading the way with provincial programs.

Fisher says B.C. has increased its rate of bulb recycling from 10 per cent to 75 per cent. A program co-ordinated by Efficiency Nova Scotia offers free CFL bulb disposal for consumers, funded by the provincial power corporation.

But those programs only cover a fraction of the bulbs that end up in Canadian landfills annually.

'Waterways don't respect provincial boundaries'

"Our waterways don't respect provincial boundaries," Fisher said.

"Trace amounts of mercury can poison hundreds of tons of fresh water. So this is something that we need to look at in a national way. It's not something that we need to continue looking at individually in a provincial way," he said.

Fisher's bill had its second reading in the House of Commons last month, and has received support from all parties.

"I look forward to the discussion," said Ed Fast, Conservative MP for Abbostford, B.C., during House of Commons debates last month.

'The support has been massive'

"The member and I are going to work very closely to make sure this is done in a way that is respectful of taxpayers and also addresses the very real concerns of mercury within our environment," he said.

Fisher said he was excited to have support from every federal party, meaning his bill will likely pass.

"It's very hard to pass a private-members bill in the first place," he said. "The support has been massive."

Too early to know about fees

Fisher says adding regulations won't necessarily add costs for consumers.

"This bill speaks to starting the conversation, it doesn't presuppose an outcome, he said.

Many items already have responsible recycling strategies and not all of them include fees passed on to the consumer.

Nationally, there is a:

• Battery Recycling Program (no fees to consumers)
• Mercury Switch Recovery Program (funded by steel and automotive industries)
• Mobile Device Recycling Program (no fees to consumers)
• Obsolete Pesticide Collection Program (fees paid by manufacturers)
• Pesticide Container Recycling Program (fees paid by manufacturers)
• Refrigerants Management ozone depleting substances (environmental levy charged to consumers)

Fisher's says his bill will go to third reading in the fall, and will then be sent for Senate approval.

• Compact fluorescent bulbs often end up in trash