NY S04038

Removes exemptions for mercury-containing lamps discarded by households and small businesses (those discarding no more than 15 lamps per month), effective January 1, 2024.

Requires all producers of mercury-containing lamps sold in New York to submit collection program plans to the Department of Environmental Conservation by June 1, 2025, and implement programs by December 1, 2025.

Collection programs must be free to households and small businesses, and may include mail-back systems, retail collection sites, curbside pickup, or household hazardous waste collection events.

Producers must submit annual reports beginning June 1, 2026 detailing lamps collected, mercury content recovered, program effectiveness, and administrative costs.

Department must approve or deny producer plans within 90 days, maintain a public list of collection points on its website, and post annual reports evaluating statewide collection rates and program effectiveness.