AB744: Bill Text

This bill imposes requirements on manufacturers that sell, or that have previously sold, mercury-added lamps to households in this state. Lamps are commonly called light bulbs. The bill defines a mercury-added lamp as any electric lamp to which mercury is intentionally added during the manufacturing process. The bill requires manufacturers, beginning on January 1, 2014, to file an annual registration with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and to pay an annual fee. The registration must also include an annual report containing specific information required by DNR. Under the bill, a manufacturer must implement a recycling plan approved by DNR for recycling mercury-added lamps derived from households (household lamps). If a manufacturer fails to annually register with DNR, pay an annual registration fee, or fully implement an approved recycling plan, the manufacturer may not conduct business of any kind in this state. All of these requirements cease to apply to a manufacturer after the expiration of a ten-year period during which the manufacturer does not sell any household lamps in this state.

In order for a manufacturer to comply with registration requirements established under the bill, the manufacturer must submit a recycling plan to DNR for approval. The bill provides that DNR may not approve a recycling plan unless the plan contains certain information. The plan must contain, among other things, information about the collection sites established by the manufacturer at which household lamps may be deposited for recycling, information about the procedure established by the manufacturer for the delivery of household lamps from collection sites to a recycler, and a public education component that provides information about recycling and the safe storage and handling of used household lamps. The bill authorizes manufacturers to establish joint recycling programs or to participate in the creation of an entity to collect and recycle household lamps.

Under this bill, DNR must review a manufacturer's recycling plan within three months of its submission. Within 30 days after completing its review, DNR must notify the manufacturer of any deficiencies in the manufacturer's plan. If DNR determines that an original or modified plan complies with the plan requirements established in the bill, DNR must approve the plan. If the plan is deficient and the manufacturer fails to remedy the plan, DNR must disapprove the plan. The bill requires DNR, in approving recycling plans, to establish a goal of achieving by January 1, 2016, an average yearly recycling rate of 70 percent of the total weight of mercury-added lamps sold to households in this state.

The bill also requires each manufacturer to submit an annual report to DNR that includes information about the total weight of household lamps recycled by the manufacturer in the previous year and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the manufacturer's plan. The bill requires a manufacturer upon submission of a plan, and with each annual registration, to pay a recycling administration fee to DNR of $5,000.

Beginning on July 1, 2014, the bill prohibits a retailer from selling a mercury-added lamp to a household unless the retailer determines that the manufacturer is on a list, maintained by DNR, of manufacturers that have fully implemented an approved recycling plan.

Thermostats containing mercury

This bill requires a manufacturer that sells or sold thermostats that contain mercury (mercury-added thermostats) in this state to implement a recycling plan approved by DNR for collecting and recycling mercury-added thermostats. The plan must contain provisions for education and outreach, for ensuring that collection and recycling are conducted in accordance with DNR's rules, for the furnishing of containers to wholesalers and collectors, and for financial incentives for the return of mercury-added thermostats. The bill also imposes annual reporting requirements on manufacturers. If a manufacturer does not comply with the requirements, the bill prohibits the manufacturer from selling any kind of thermostat in this state and prohibits wholesalers and retailers from selling any of the manufacturer's thermostats in this state.

The bill prohibits a wholesaler from selling or distributing any kind of thermostat unless the wholesaler collects used mercury-added thermostats. The bill prohibits a retailer from selling or distributing any kind of thermostat unless the retailer participates in a program to educate consumers on the collection of mercury-added thermostats. The bill requires a contractor that demolishes a building to first remove any mercury-added thermostats. The bill also requires a contractor who removes a mercury-added thermostat from a building to deliver the old thermostat to a wholesaler or collector.

Disposal of mercury-added products

Current law prohibits various items, including lead acid batteries and major appliances, from being disposed of in landfills and from being incinerated. This bill prohibits products to which mercury is intentionally added from being knowingly disposed of in landfills and from being knowingly incinerated.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB744, s. 1 Section 1. 20.370 (2) (hs) of the statutes is created to read:

AB744,3,4 20.370 (2) (hs) Mercury-added lamp recycling. From the environmental fund, all moneys received under s. 287.16 (8) for administration of the mercury-added lamp recycling program under s. 287.16.

AB744, s. 2 Section 2. 20.370 (2) (ht) of the statutes is created to read:

AB744,3,8 20.370 (2) (ht) Mercury-added thermostat recycling. From the environmental fund, all moneys received under s. 287.165 (2) (e) for administration of the mercury-added thermostat recycling program under s. 287.165.

AB744, s. 3 Section 3. 25.46 (22) of the statutes is created to read:

AB744,3,10 25.46 (22) The moneys received under s. 287.16 (8).

AB744, s. 4 Section 4. 25.46 (23) of the statutes is created to read:

AB744,3,12 25.46 (23) The moneys received under s. 287.65 (2) (e).

AB744, s. 5 Section 5. 287.03 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB744,4,2 287.03 (1) (g) Maintain an updated list of manufacturers that have fully implemented an approved recycling plan under s. 287.16 (6).

AB744, s. 6 Section 6. 287.07 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB744,4,5 287.07 (6) Mercury-added products. (a) In this subsection, "mercury-added product" has the meaning given in s. 299.49 (1) (a).

AB744,4,11 (b) Beginning on the first day of the 19th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], no person may knowingly dispose of a mercury-added product in a solid waste disposal facility, burn a mercury-added product in a solid waste treatment facility, or place a mercury-added thermostat in a container the contents of which will be disposed of in a solid waste disposal facility or burned in a solid waste treatment facility.

AB744,4,15 (c) 1. Beginning on the first day of the 19th month beginning after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], the operator of a solid waste disposal facility may not knowingly accept a mercury-added product for disposal in the solid waste disposal facility.

AB744,4,19 2. Beginning on the first day of the 19th month beginning after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], the operator of a solid waste treatment facility may not knowingly accept a mercury-added product for burning in the solid waste treatment facility.

AB744, s. 7 Section 7. 287.16 of the statutes is created to read:

AB744,4,21 287.16 Mercury-added lamp recycling. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB744,4,24 (a) "Collection" means the act of receiving mercury-added lamps derived from households and delivering, or arranging for the delivery of, the mercury-added lamps to a recycler.

AB744,5,3 (b) "Dwelling unit" means a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.

AB744,5,5 (c) "Household" means one or more individuals who occupy one dwelling unit in a detached or multiunit building.

AB744,5,7 (d) "Manufacturer" means a person who does, or who previously has done, any of the following:

AB744,5,8 1. Manufacture mercury-added lamps to be sold under the person's own brand.

AB744,5,10 2. Sell mercury-added lamps manufactured by others under the person's own brand.

AB744,5,12 3. License the person's brand for manufacture and sale of mercury-added lamps by others.

AB744,5,14 (e) "Mercury-added lamp" means an electric lamp to which mercury is intentionally added during the manufacturing process.

AB744,5,15 (f) "Recycler" means a person who accepts mercury-added lamps for recycling.

AB744,5,21 (g) "Recycling" means preparing mercury-added lamps for use in manufacturing processes or for recovery of useable materials and delivering the materials for use. "Recycling" does not include destruction by incineration or other processes or land disposal of recyclable materials and does not include reuse, repair, or any other process through which eligible mercury-added lamps are returned for use by households in their original form.

AB744,5,23 (h) "Retailer" means any person engaged in the retail sale of mercury-added lamps to persons in this state.

AB744,5,25 (i) "Sell" means sell to a household, offer to sell to a household, or deliver to a retailer for subsequent sale to a household.

AB744,6,4 (2) Manufacturer requirements. (a) Except as provided under par. (c), beginning on January 1, 2014, a manufacturer who sells, or who has sold, mercury-added lamps to households in this state, may not conduct business in this state unless all of the following apply:

AB744,6,6 1. The manufacturer has filed an annual registration with the department in the form and manner required by the department by rule.

AB744,6,7 2. The manufacturer has paid the fees required under sub. (8).

AB744,6,9 3. The manufacturer has fully implemented an approved recycling plan under sub. (6).

AB744,6,11 (b) The registration required under par. (a) 1. shall include the annual report required under sub. (7).

AB744,6,15 (c) The requirements under this subsection do not apply to a manufacturer if the manufacturer has not sold any mercury-added lamps to households in this state for 10 consecutive years and does not resume such sales upon expiration of that 10-year period.

AB744,6,20 (3) Plan submission. (a) To comply with sub. (2), a manufacturer whose mercury-added lamps are or were sold in this state shall submit a recycling plan to the department that establishes a program for recycling, or arranging for recycling, mercury-added lamps derived from households. The plan shall do all of the following:

AB744,6,25 1. Establish collection locations throughout this state at which mercury-added lamps derived from households may be deposited without cost to the household or owner of the collection site. The plan shall provide that the manufacturer shall establish at least one collection site for each 10,000 residents in each county that has a population of fewer than 30,000 residents.

AB744,7,3 2. Include any information required by the department about collection sites established by the manufacturer and about the persons who collect and recycle the manufacturer's mercury-added lamps under the plan.

AB744,7,5 3. Include a description of the action taken by the manufacturer to ensure that collectors comply with the requirements of ch. NR 673, Wis. Adm. Code.

AB744,7,8 4. Include a public education component to provide information about the reasons to recycle, local opportunities for recycling, and the safe storage and handling of used mercury-added lamps derived from households.

AB744,7,13 5. Establish a procedure for the delivery of mercury-added lamps derived from households, in containers approved by the department, from collection locations to a recycler. The department may not approve a container under this subdivision unless the department determines that the container is designed to prevent the escape of mercury into the environment by volatilization or other means.

AB744,7,16 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a manufacturer if the manufacturer has not sold mercury-added lamps to households in this state for 10 consecutive years and does not resume such sales upon expiration of that 10-year period.

AB744,7,20 (c) A manufacturer may establish a recycling program under this subsection jointly with other manufacturers and may participate with other manufacturers in creating an entity to collect and recycle mercury-added lamps derived from households.

AB744,7,24 (d) The department may require a manufacturer to submit a revised plan under this subsection consistent with any recommendations contained in the manufacturer's report under sub. (7) for increasing the weight of mercury-added lamps recycled under the manufacturer's plan.

AB744,8,3 (e) The department shall publish each plan submitted under this subsection as a class 1 notice under ch. 985 and shall make the plan available on the department's Internet site.

AB744,8,11 (4) Plan review. The department shall review a plan submitted under sub. (3) within 3 months of its submission to determine whether the plan complies with the requirements of sub. (3). Within 30 days after completing its review, the department shall notify a manufacturer of any deficiencies in the manufacturer's plan. If an original or modified plan complies with the requirements of sub. (3), the department shall approve the plan. If a manufacturer fails to remedy deficiencies in the manufacturer's original or modified plan by a deadline set by the department, the department shall disapprove the plan.

AB744,8,14 (5) Goal. The department shall approve plans under sub. (4) with a goal of achieving by January 1, 2016, an average yearly recycling rate of 70 percent of the total weight of mercury-added lamps sold to households in this state.

AB744,8,18 (6) Plan implementation. Upon approval under sub. (4) of a manufacturer's plan, the manufacturer shall implement the plan. A manufacturer shall fully implement its plan no more than 12 months after the department approves the plan under sub. (4).

AB744,8,21 (7) Annual report requirement. Within 12 months of approval of its plan and annually thereafter, a manufacturer shall submit a report to the department that includes all of the following:

AB744,8,23 (a) The total weight of mercury-added lamps derived from households that the manufacturer recycled under the plan in the previous year.

AB744,9,3 (b) The estimated total weight of the manufacturer's mercury-added lamps that were sold to households in the previous year and the methodology used for estimating that number.

AB744,9,4 (c) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the manufacturer's plan.

AB744,9,6 (d) An accounting of the costs associated with administering the plan in the previous year.

AB744,9,10 (e) A description of any changes proposed to be made to the manufacturer's plan to increase the weight of mercury-added lamps collected from households for recycling including changes to collection site locations and recyclers to whom the manufacturer delivers, or has delivered, mercury-added lamps for recycling.

AB744,9,16 (8) Fee. Upon submission of a plan under sub. (3), and annually with a registration filed under sub. (2), a manufacturer shall pay a recycling administration fee of $5,000 to the department. This subsection does not apply to a manufacturer if the manufacturer has not sold any mercury-added lamps to households in this state for 10 consecutive years and does not resume such sales upon expiration of that 10-year period.

AB744,9,20 (9) Retailers. Beginning on July 1, 2014, a retailer may not sell or offer to sell a mercury-added lamp produced by a manufacturer unless, before making the first offer for sale, the retailer has determined that the manufacturer is on the list maintained by the department under s. 287.03 (1) (g).

AB744,9,24 (10) Cooperation. The department shall encourage communication between local governments, persons operating solid waste collection and recycling centers, and manufacturers to promote cooperation in establishing and maintaining effective methods for recycling mercury-added lamps derived from households.

AB744,10,10 (11) Report. On or before January 1, 2016, the department shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) of the statutes on the recycling of mercury-added lamps under this section for the period beginning immediately after the date of submission of the report under 2011 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 10 (1). The report shall include the information required for the report specified under 2011 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 10 (1). The report shall also contain an assessment of whether the goal under sub. (5) has been met. If the assessment in the report provides that the goal has not been met, the report shall include recommendations for revising mercury-added lamp collection and recycling procedures to achieve that goal.

AB744, s. 8 Section 8. 287.165 of the statutes is created to read:

AB744,10,13 287.165 Mercury-added thermostat recycling. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB744,10,16 (a) "Contractor" means a person who is engaged in the business of installing heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning components or in the business of demolishing buildings.

AB744,10,19 (b) "Manufacturer" means a person who produces or produced mercury-added thermostats for sale under its own brand or who sells or sold under its own brand mercury-added thermostats produced by another.

AB744,10,20 (c) "Mercury-added thermostat" has the meaning given in s. 299.49 (1) (b).

AB744,10,22 (d) "Registered collector" means a person who collects mercury-added thermostats and who is registered under sub. (6) (c) 1.

AB744,10,24 (e) "Retailer" means a person who sells thermostats to homeowners and other individuals who are not wholesalers or contractors.

AB744,11,3 (f) "Thermostat" means a product or device that senses and controls room temperature through communication with heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning equipment.

AB744,11,5 (g) "Wholesaler" means a person who is engaged in the distribution and sale of heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning components to contractors.

AB744,11,8 (2) Manufacturer responsibility. A manufacturer who sold or distributed mercury-added thermostats in this state shall do all of the following, individually or in conjunction with other manufacturers:

AB744,11,12 (a) No later than the first day of the 13th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], submit to the department a plan for a program to collect and recycle mercury-added thermostats that includes all of the following:

AB744,11,15 1. Education and outreach for wholesalers, retailers, contractors, and homeowners, including the provision of education and outreach materials to wholesalers and retailers at no cost.

AB744,11,17 2. Provisions to ensure the collection and recycling of mercury-added thermostats in accordance with ch. NR 673, Wis. Adm. Code.

AB744,11,20 3. The furnishing of containers to wholesalers for returning mercury-added thermostats for recycling at no cost other than an initial, reasonable fee per container.

AB744,11,23 4. The furnishing of containers to registered collectors for returning mercury-added thermostats for recycling, at no cost other than an initial, reasonable fee per container.

AB744,12,3 5. A financial incentive of at least $5 per thermostat for the return of mercury-added thermostats by a contractor to a wholesaler, in the form of cash or a coupon that is redeemable for cash by the contractor.