Health & Fitness
Olympia – Please Pass Commonsense Legislation to Protect Our Families
Don't turn back the clock on the 2010 mercury lighting bill--let's make it easier for consumers to safely dispose of products containing toxic chemicals.
Right now, leaders in Olympia are discussing bills that will make disposing of unused paint (HB 1579/SB 5424) and rechargeable batteries (HB 1364/ SB 5457) easier and safer for consumers--and the best part is: battery and paint manufacturers support the bills!
We must commit ourselves to the responsible recycling and disposal of products that contain harmful chemicals including lead and other heavy metals. And we should not turn back the clock; Senate Bill 5658 seeks to repeal a commonsense mercury-containing light stewardship law passed in 2010. If passed, manufacturers of mercury lights will no longer be required to find solutions for the safe disposal of their product. Passage of SB 5658 would stop our state’s mercury-containing light stewardship law just as Ecology is issuing a contract to a stewardship organization and more than 190 retailers and local governments have signed up as collection sites.
Contact your legislators and tell them that you want a healthier Washington by supporting commonsense product stewardship legislation that protects all of us.
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Maureen Judge
Former Executive Director, Washington Toxics Coalition