HR1316 LRB095 21395 RLJ 50706 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Many common consumer products contain hazardous
3 materials; some of these materials, such as lead and mercury,
4 which can be found in compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), are
5 persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals; when products
6 containing these materials are improperly stored or disposed of
7 and accidently break, they can contaminate the soil,
8 groundwater, and air, posing a risk to human health and
9 wildlife; and
 
10     WHEREAS, CFLs significantly reduce mercury, greenhouse
11 gases, and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants
12 and are two to three times more efficient than standard
13 incandescent light bulbs, but concerns have been raised about
14 the safety of CFLs because all models contain mercury and some
15 models contain lead; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Mercury is a persistent and toxic pollutant that
17 bioaccumulates in the environment; and
 
18     WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Public Health
19 recognizes that the developing nervous systems of fetuses and
20 children could be damaged if exposed to small amounts of
21 methylmercury; at high doses, methylmercury can affect the
22 central nervous system causing health problems such as memory

 

 

HR1316 - 2 - LRB095 21395 RLJ 50706 r

1 loss and slurred speech; and methylmercury can cause kidney
2 damage, kidney failure, and gastrointestinal damage; and
 
3     WHEREAS, The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency,
4 municipalities, IKEA, and Ace Hardware offer CFL collection
5 programs for proper recycling, but the vast majority of CFLs
6 end up in landfills or trash incinerators and the hazardous
7 substances in CFLs can get released into the environment; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Approximately two percent of household CFLs and
9 thirty percent of commercial CFLs are recycled in the United
10 States; therefore, be it
 
11     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
13 urge CFL manufactureres and retailers to voluntarily implement
14 CFL collection programs to ensure that more CFLs are properly
15 recycled.