Local Government Groups Call for Manufacturers to Recycle Toxic Mercury Compact Fluorescent...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Three local government product stewardship organizations from the U.S. and Canada today praised retailers and consumers for promoting the switch to energy efficient light bulbs, but said manufacturers must take the next step of creating and financing convenient, environmentally

The California Product Stewardship Council, the Northwest Product Stewardship Council and the British Columbia Product Stewardship Council issued a joint statement today, coordinated by the Product Policy Institute. The statement calls for manufacturers to take financial responsibility for and provide collection programs for fluorescent lights, since the toxins they contain are banned from disposal in many states.

The product stewardship councils are coalitions of primarily local governments working together to promote minimizing a product's environmental impact throughout the products' life cycle. The Product Policy Institute is a North American non-profit organization that researches and promotes policies that reduce public costs and promote environmental sustainability.

Local governments and tax payers currently shoulder the financial burden of the disposal of these products, as well as the potential for future environmental liability. The groups today are calling for manufacturers to finance "cradle-to-cradle" management of the products they create in order to promote environmental sustainability.

The groups also applauded pending California legislation (AB 1109) that would increase the development and use of energy efficient lighting, reduce the toxicity of the bulbs, and require manufacturers to provide take-back recycling services. The bill requires manufacturers to collect and recycle end-of-life bulbs that contain hazardous materials, such as lead and mercury and say how they will provide an environmentally responsible disposal and take-back programs by July 1, 2009. The measure is sponsored by California Assembly Member Jared Huffman.

Representatives of the Product Policy Institute and the three councils called this a model for future state and national legislation.

The full statement and a backgrounder can be viewed at www.productpolicy.org.

For more information on the organizations and their programs, visit:

-- Northwest Product Stewardship Council
   (www.productstewardship.net)
   Lauren Cole (Seattle): 206-296-4363
   (Lauren.Cole@metrokc.gov)

-- California Product Stewardship Council
   (www.caproductstewardship.org)
   Carol Misseldine (Oakland): 510-238-6808
   (cmisseldine@oaklandnet.com)

-- British Columbia Product Stewardship Council
   (www.bcproductstewardship.org)
   Raymond Gautdart (Trail BC): 250-368-0232
   (rgaudart@rdkb.com)