Proposed code of practice for the environmentally sound management of end-of-life lamps containing mercury

Summary: As part of the Government of Canada’s approach to reducing mercury releases and emissions to the environment, Environment and Climate Change Canada (the Department) has developed this proposed code of practice for the environmentally sound management of mercury-containing lamps at their end of life, which also includes options for diverting and managing spent lamps in remote and northern areas. Environmentally sound management of spent lamps means ensuring that they are collected separately from the general waste stream, stored, handled, transported and processed in a manner that prevents releases of the mercury to the environment. It also means that mercury from the waste products is recovered or stabilized prior to environmentally sound disposal in a hazardous waste landfill. This code of practice is a voluntary tool developed to complement provincial, territorial and local efforts, and to promote best practices for managing end-of-life mercury-containing lamps. Several provinces have established, or are currently establishing, policies, legislation, programs and other measures for extended producer responsibility to collect and manage end-of-life lamps. These measures contribute to the implementation of the Canada-wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility, which commits the Canadian jurisdictions to work towards the development of extended producer responsibility framework legislation or regulations to ensure that various end-of-life products and materials are diverted from landfills. During the development of this code of practice, the Department consulted with experts from provincial and territorial governments, industry and stewardship organizations, and other stakeholders.