Dive Brief:

• Washington state announced a program focused on collecting fluorescent lights at 130 drop-off locations. 
• LightRecycle Washington will collect the tubes and other lights that are made with mercury. The service is free to residents in the state. nt point.
• Seattle, WA-based EcoLights Northwest will process the used lights. Contaminants will be removed and the components will be disassembled and reused. 

Dive Insight:

Since 2010, it has been illegal to throw out lighting units in Washington that contain mercury. The creation of the program should help alleviate an issue residents sometimes face: where to dispose of their old lights. More locations are expected to open within the month -- creating even more options for consumers. 

The collection sites are expected to encourage compliance with the laws, while providing an additional benefit to the environment by preventing toxic lights from entering the waste stream.

In order to pay for the program, the state implemented a 25-cent charge for all new lights with mercury content that are sold at retail locations.