Groups Hail Passage of Mercury Pollution Prevention Bill
(ALBANY, NY) The Senate and Assembly passed legislation late Friday night that will reduce mercury pollution in New York, after coming to an agreement on the bill language earlier in the week.
The Mercury Thermostat Collection Act (S.1676A/A.8084), championed by Senator Mark Grisanti and Assemblyman Bob Sweeney, will require thermostat manufacturers to collect and safely dispose of mercury-containing thermostats, a major source of mercury in the waste stream.
“This is a significant win for the environment,” said Laura Haight, senior environmental associate with the New York Public Interest Research Group. “Over the years, New York has taken great strides to reduce mercury pollution. This bill addresses one of the largest remaining sources of mercury pollution in New York, the hundreds of thousands of mercury-containing thermostats that are discarded each year. We commend Assemblyman Bob Sweeney and Senator Mark Grisanti for their hard work, cooperation, and perseverance in getting this bill over the finish line.”
“The passage of this legislation is one of the most important environmental victories in Albany this year,” said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “We salute Senator Mark Grisanti and Assemblyman Bob Sweeney for their many years of hard work and advocacy on behalf of this critical legislation, and we applaud the Assembly and Senate for approving one of our top priorities of 2013.”
Read more at http://www.longislandexchange.com/press/2013/06/23/groups-hail-passage-of-mercury-pollution-prevention-bill/
