Talking Mercury at the State House

By Dave Gerraughty, Rhode Island Program Organizer My adrenalin was on overdrive and my nerves were jangling a bit as I was called to testify before the Rhode Island House Environment Committee on our bill to create a Producer Responsibility Program for light bulbs containing mercury. I had spent the past year researching and implementing a pilot program to demonstrate that Rhode Islanders would respond positively to the opportunity to recycle compact fluorescent bulbs close to home. The idea was to use the success of Clean Water Action’s program to set the stage for making bulb manufacturers take over the funding of residential recycling. So there was a lot riding on how a strong a case I could make. I was relieved that the setting was less formal than I expected. Instead of small table with a microphone in front of rows of legislators on a raised platform, we were all seated around one large table in a smaller room. A much more conversational atmosphere. Here's what I told the legislators around the table:

• Mercury has toxic effects on the kidney, nervous system and brain function.
• Pregnant women and children are at a much greater risk of impacts from mercury exposure
• A single CFL, with its 4 mg of mercury, could make 28 pounds of fish unsafe to eat.
• How positive customer response has been at the 14 hardware stores participating in our bulb collection program. I was able to show letters of support from 4 store managers.

I did my homework on what arguments manufacturers have made in previous hearings and offered two rebuttal points before they testified against the bill:

• The price of CFLs did not increase in states that have enacted EPR programs.
• The day when LEDs make CFLs obsolete has yet to arrive.

The questions that followed from the lawmakers mostly sought clarifications or more information on the mechanics of the our program. No one challenged any aspects of my testimony and they seemed satisfied with my responses. Our supporters on the panel gave a much tougher grilling to the manufacturers’ representative. I’m cautiously optimistic that we have a chance to get the bill out of committee, and I will continue to be available to talk to any legislator about its merits. We’ve come too far and worked too hard to allow this important legislation get tabled again.