DEP seeks review of product stewardship rules
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is urging lawmakers to reevaluate product stewardship rules that require manufacturers to pay for collection and recycling of hazardous materials, citing the high cost of recycling items containing mercury.
In a press release Friday, the DEP said it cost more than $2.5 million in the last 10 years to recover 400 pounds of mercury from vehicle switches, thermostats and light bulbs, or about $6,000 per pound. The agency attributed the costs mostly to collection infrastructure and the salaries of three full-time staff members focused on product stewardship, plus another four support employees. The DEP is recommending the Legislature cut costs to the program by developing legislation for 2013 that phases out certain products that no longer pose a risk because of manufacturing changes and keeps new products from being added. The DEP is seeking public input before a presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources on Jan. 16. According to the release, the DEP said the program "can and should be improved to increase protections for public and environmental health while decreasing state spending."
Environmental groups expressed concern over the DEP's position, saying the program is important for the amount of mercury and other toxins it has prevented from entering the environment, according to the Portland Press Herald. Maine in 2010 was the first state to establish a product stewardship law.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments