An Act To Protect Maine Families and the Environment by Improving the Collection and Recycling of Mercury Thermostats
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1792
Committee: Natural Resources
Sponsors: MARTIN, KOFFMAN, EBERLE, THOMPSON
Amends: 38 MRSA §1664

Legislative Document 
No. 1792 
S.P.709 
In Senate, December 30, 2005 
An Act To Protect Maine Families and the Environment by 
Improving the Collection and Recycling of Mercury Thermostats 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 28,2005. Referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 
401. 
Presented by Senator MARTIN of Aroostook. 
Cosponsored by Representative KOFFMAN of Bar Harbor and 
Representatives: EBERLE of South Portland, THOMPSON of China. 
Pnnleo on recycled p3pel 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1664, sub-§2,'C is enacted to read: 
C. 
Beginning January 1, 2007, manufacturers of thermostats 
containing mercury that are sold in this State shall pay, 
indiyidua11y or collectively, 
a 
minimum of 
$S 
for 
each 
thermostat containing mercury brought to a state-approved 
collection site. 
Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §1664. sub-§2"D is enacted to read: 
D. 
By 
January 
1, 
2007 
and 
annually 
thereafter, 
manufacturers of thermostats containing mercury that are 
sold in this State shall report to 
the 
joint standing 
committee 
of 
the 
Legislature 
having 
jurisdiction 
over 
natural 
resources 
matters 
on 
any 
fee 
or 
other 
charge 
collected on the sale of new thermostats for the purpose of 
paying 
the 
cost 
of 
carrying 
out 
the 
manufacturers' 
responsibilities under paragraph C. The report must specify 
the amount of the fee or charge collected and how the amount 
of the fee or charge was determined. By July 1, 
2008 and 
annually thereafter, 
those manufacturers shall report in 
writing to the department on the results of the thermostat 
collection 
and 
recycling 
efforts 
required 
under 
this 
section. The report must include, at a minimum, the number 
of thermostats containing mercury collected 
and 
recycled 
during 
the 
previous 
calendar 
year, 
the 
estimated total 
amount 
of 
mercury 
contained in the 
components 
and 
any 
recommendations 
to 
improve 
the 
future 
collection 
and 
recycling of thermostats containing mercury. By January 1--, 
2008 and annually thereafter, the department shall report to 
the 
department 
on 
the 
effectiveness 
of 
the 
thermostat 
collection and recycling efforts required under this section 
and whether the program should be terminated and, if so, 
when. 
SUMMARY 
This 
bill 
requires 
that 
beginning 
January 
1, 
2007 
manufacturers of thermostats containing mercury that are sold in 
this State pay a minimum of $S for each thermostat containing 
mercury brought to a state-approved collection site. This bill 
also 
requires 
that 
manufacturers 
of 
thermostats 
containing 
mercury that are sold in this State report annually to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
natural 
resources 
matters 
on 
the 
fees 
imposed 
and 
to 
the 
Department of Environmental Protection on the results of the 
SO 
thermostat collection and recycling efforts. 
Page l-LR2848(1)