Mercury > Laws and rules > MERA

Mercury Laws - Mercury Education and Reduction Act (MERA)

The Mercury Education and Reduction Act (MERA) passed the Legislature in 2003.  This law mandated labeling light bulbs, banned most mercury in schools, and banned the sale of most mercury-containing products.

As mandated by this law, all mercury-containing light bulbs and lamps must have an “Hg” label.

Washington State government must purchase products containing little or no mercury, and primary and secondary schools may no longer purchase elemental mercury or mercury compounds.  See Environmentally Preferable Purchasing for more on how state agencies can go mercury free.

Schools removed and properly disposed of bulk elemental mercury in 2005. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Department of Health (DOH) worked with the schools on this project.

As of January 1, 2006, MERA banned the sale of:

• thermometers, except for calibration or by prescription;
• manometers, or blood-pressure gauges;
• commercial or residential thermostats unless the manufacturer participates in a recovery/recycling program;
• mercury-containing novelties, toys, or jewelry; and
• newly manufactured cars containing mercury switches.

For the success of these and other projects, see Mercury Measures and Mercury-containing Products.

Also, the Department of Ecology joined the The Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC) to partner with other states and governmental entities working on these problems. 

Related information:

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing This Web site is directed at state purchasing officers
The Mercury Education and Reduction Act links to the actual law at the Office of the Code Reviser
Health and Safety Guide for Schools from OSPI and DOH
The Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC)

Washington State Department of Health:

• The Washington State Department of Health's (DOH's) MERA site
• The MERA Education Plan at the Department of Health
• MERA and Local Government, Business, Schools, Public Department of Health fact sheet
• Impact on Schools Department of Health fact sheet on MERA and the schoools