Regulations

It is illegal for King County businesses and residents to dispose of mercury-containing products in the garbage or at transfer stations.

King County
The King County Solid Waste Division Waste Acceptance Rule prohibits the disposal of mercury products at King County Solid Waste facilities. This rule applies to households and businesses.

City of Seattle
The Seattle Municipal Code prohibits the disposal of mercury products in commercial and residential garbage containers in Seattle.

Washington State
The Washington State Mercury Education and Reduction Act (MERA) (Revised Code of Washington 70.95) makes numerous provisions about the sale and disposal of mercury products in Washington State. These include:

• Sales ban on mercury-containing novelties, manometers, thermometers, and certain medical equipment;
• Requirement that fluorescent lamps be labeled with "Hg" (symbol for mercury);
• Restriction on purchase of mercury by school science labs.

The Washington State Universal Waste Rule (Washington Administrative Code 173-303-573) provides that certain common mercury-containing wastes can be handled with less regulation if they are recycled. Items included in the Universal Waste rule are batteries, mercury-containing lamps, mercury thermostats and mercury-containing equipment. Disposal of fluorescent lamps as Universal Waste is explained in the Washington State Universal Waste Rule for Dangerous Waste Lamps.

If mercury-containing products aren't managed under the Universal Waste rule, they must be managed according to the Washington State Dangerous Waste Regulations.