SB629: Bill Text

LRB-3096/2

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2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Senate BILL 629

March 18, 2010 - Introduced by Senators Jauch, Lehman, Miller, Taylor, Robson, Risser and Cowles, cosponsored by Representatives Zepnick, Pope-Roberts, Pasch, Berceau, Black, Sinicki, Dexter, Benedict, Roys and Hebl. Referred to Committee on Environment.

SB629,1,3 An Act to create 20.370 (2) (hs), 25.49 (1g), 287.03 (1) (g), 287.07 (4r) and 287.16 of the statutes; relating to: the sale, disposal, collection, and recycling of mercury-added lamps and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill imposes requirements on manufacturers that sell, or that have previously sold, mercury-added lamps to households in this state. 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, 2013, 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 information about public education provided by the manufacturer that gives 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, 2015, 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, 2013, 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.

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 the disposal in landfills and the incineration of mercury-added lamps. The prohibition takes effect on July 1, 2013.

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:

SB629, s. 1 Section 1. 20.370 (2) (hs) of the statutes is created to read:

SB629,2,4 20.370 (2) (hs) Mercury-added lamp recycling. From the recycling and renewable energy fund, all moneys received under s. 287.16 (8) for administration of the mercury-added lamp recycling program under s. 287.16.

SB629, s. 2 Section 2. 25.49 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB629,3,2 25.49 (1g) The moneys received under s. 287.16 (8).

SB629, s. 3 Section 3. 287.03 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB629,3,5 287.03 (1) (g) Maintain an updated list of manufacturers that have fully implemented an approved recycling plan under s. 287.16 (6).

SB629, s. 4 Section 4. 287.07 (4r) of the statutes is created to read:

SB629,3,9 287.07 (4r) Mercury-added lamps. (a) In this subsection, "mercury-added lamp" means an electric lamp to which mercury is intentionally added during the manufacturing process.

SB629,3,10 (b) Beginning on July 1, 2013, no person may knowingly do any of the following:

SB629,3,11 1. Dispose of a mercury-added lamp in a solid waste disposal facility.

SB629,3,12 2. Burn a mercury-added lamp in a solid waste treatment facility.

SB629,3,15 3. Place a mercury-added lamp 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.

SB629,3,22 (c) The operator of a solid waste disposal facility or a solid waste treatment facility shall make a reasonable effort to manually separate, and arrange to have recycled, a mercury-added lamp that is readily observable in solid waste that is delivered to the facility for disposal or burning unless the operator determines that separating the mercury-added lamp is not practical or would require the operator to implement measures to protect human health or safety in addition to any measures taken in the ordinary course of business.

SB629, s. 5 Section 5. 287.16 of the statutes is created to read:

SB629,3,24 287.16 Mercury-added lamp recycling. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB629,4,3 (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.

SB629,4,6 (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.

SB629,4,8 (c) "Household" means one or more individuals who occupy one dwelling unit in a detached or multiunit building.

SB629,4,10 (d) "Manufacturer" means a person who does, or who previously has done, any of the following:

SB629,4,11 1. Manufacture mercury-added lamps to be sold under the person's own brand.

SB629,4,13 2. Sell mercury-added lamps manufactured by others under the person's own brand.

SB629,4,15 3. License the person's brand for manufacture and sale of mercury-added lamps by others.

SB629,4,17 (e) "Mercury-added lamp" means an electric lamp to which mercury is intentionally added during the manufacturing process.

SB629,4,18 (f) "Recycler" means a person who accepts mercury-added lamps for recycling.

SB629,4,24 (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.

SB629,5,2 (h) "Retailer" means any person engaged in the retail sale of mercury-added lamps to persons in this state.

SB629,5,4 (i) "Sell" means sell to a household, offer to sell to a household, or deliver to a retailer for subsequent sale to a household.

SB629,5,8 (2) Manufacturer requirements. (a) Except as provided under par. (c), beginning on January 1, 2013, 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:

SB629,5,10 1. The manufacturer has filed an annual registration with the department in the form and manner required by the department by rule.

SB629,5,11 2. The manufacturer has paid the fees required under sub. (8).

SB629,5,13 3. The manufacturer has fully implemented an approved recycling plan under sub. (6).

SB629,5,15 (b) The registration required under par. (a) 1. shall include the annual report required under sub. (7).

SB629,5,19 (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.