2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-24.9 - Mercury Reduction and Education Act › Section 23-24.9-9. - Disposal ban.

§ 23-24.9-9. Disposal ban.
(a)
Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, after July 1, 2006, no person shall dispose of mercury-added products in a manner other than by recycling or disposal as hazardous waste. Mercury from mercury-added products may not be discharged to water, wastewater treatment, and wastewater disposal systems except when it is done in compliance with local, state, and federal applicable requirements.
(b)
If a formulated mercury-added product is a cosmetic or pharmaceutical product subject to the regulatory requirements relating to mercury of the federal Food and Drug Administration, then the product is exempt from the requirements of this section.
(c)
This section shall not apply to: (1) anyone who disposes of a mercury-added button cell battery; or (2) mercury-added components as contained in motor vehicles, except as provided in § 23-24.9-10(b)(2) and in accordance with such regulations as may be adopted by the department in order to achieve the purposes of § 23-24.9-10(b)(2).
(d)
The restrictions on the disposal of mercury-added components in motor vehicles shall be as set forth in subsection (a) of this section effective January 1, 2006, and shall be implemented as provided for in subdivision (c)(2) and § 23-24.9-10(b)(2).
(e)
The restrictions on amalgam waste recycling and disposal shall be implemented as provided for in § 23-24.9-9.3.
(f)
Any contractor who replaces a mercury-containing thermostat from a building shall recycle the thermostat using its own collection container provided by thermostat manufacturers, or deliver the mercury-containing thermostat to an appropriate wholesaler, retailer, or local government collection for recycling.
(g)
Any contractor who demolishes a building shall remove any mercury-containing thermostats from the building prior to demolition and shall deliver the mercury-containing thermostats to an appropriate wholesaler, retailer, or collection location for recycling.
(h)
Any person who replaces a mercury-containing thermostat from any location in the state that is participating in an energy efficiency and/or weatherization program supported or administered in whole or in part by any department, agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the state, or conducted as a result of any statutory requirement, including, but not limited to, demand-side management pursuant to household hazardous waste drop-off event § 39-2-1.2, or least-cost procurement pursuant to § 39-1-27.7, shall deliver the mercury-containing thermostats to an appropriate wholesaler, retailer, or collection location for recycling.
(i)
After January 1, 2020, the ban will apply to disposal of mercury-containing lamps.
History of Section.
P.L. 2001, ch. 234, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 318, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 235, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 328, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 70, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 81, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 266, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 268, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 556, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 131, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 145, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 143, § 2; P.L. 2016, ch. 161, § 2.