CT SB00350

Manufacturers must establish mercury thermostat collection and recycling programs by April 1, 2013, either individually or collectively, to collect and properly manage out-of-service mercury thermostats at participating collection sites in Connecticut.

Manufacturers must provide free collection containers to wholesalers, retailers, qualified contractors, and municipalities, with an optional one-time program administration fee not to exceed $75 per participant.

Manufacturers must conduct educational outreach from April 1, 2013 through April 1, 2016, including promoting collection containers, educating contractors and homeowners, providing signage, and supplying informational materials.

Starting July 1, 2014, manufacturers who fail to comply cannot sell thermostats in Connecticut, and wholesalers or qualified contractors cannot sell thermostats from non-compliant manufacturers or operate without participating in a collection program.

Beginning July 1, 2014, mercury thermostats cannot be disposed of in regular waste streams; contractors must recycle or deliver replaced thermostats to collection sites, and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection must maintain a public list of collection site participants.