Ban on Mercury-Containing Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Summary
Maine DEP announced enforcement of legislation enacted in 2023 banning the sale and distribution of mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs effective January 1, 2026. The ban affects retailers and consumers throughout Maine and covers all types of mercury-containing fluorescent bulbs including linear, compact, black light, high-intensity discharge, ultraviolet, and neon variants. The legislation aims to reduce mercury pollution and protect public health and the environment.
What changed
Maine Department of Environmental Protection is enforcing a state law enacted in 2023 that prohibits the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs. The ban applies to linear fluorescent bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs, and other specialty mercury-containing bulbs including black light, high-intensity discharge, ultraviolet, and neon products. This is a binding prohibition on an entire product category affecting all retailers and consumers in Maine.
Retailers must immediately stop selling all mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs and remove affected products from inventory. Businesses should review their product lines to ensure compliance and contact DEP specialist Courtney Hafner at (207) 314-3354 for compliance questions. Consumers should transition to mercury-free alternatives. Non-compliance may result in enforcement action under Maine environmental law.
What to do next
- Remove mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs from retail inventory immediately
- Update sales systems and processes to prevent sale of prohibited products
- Contact Maine DEP compliance specialist for guidance on affected product categories
Archived snapshot
Apr 6, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
New Restrictions on Mercury-Containing Fluorescent Light Bulbs in Maine
Maine Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 01/21/2026 02:35 PM EST
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For Immediate Release | | | |
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New Restrictions on Mercury-Containing Fluorescent Light Bulbs in Maine
AUGUSTA, MAINE, January 21, 2026 — Beginning January 1, 2026, consumers and retailers in Maine will no longer be allowed to sell or distribute mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs. This decision follows the enactment of a ban by the Maine Legislature in 2023, aimed at reducing mercury pollution and protecting public health and the environment. This legislation prohibits offering for sale, selling, or distributing as a new manufactured product any compact fluorescent mercury-containing light bulb or linear fluorescent mercury-containing light bulb. The ban affects a variety of lighting products, including but not limited to linear fluorescent mercury-containing light bulbs, compact fluorescent mercury-containing light bulbs, as well as black light, high-intensity discharge, ultraviolet, and neon mercury-containing light bulbs.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) urges consumers and retailers to review the details of this new ban. For further information, including answers to frequently asked questions about the effected products, please visit the DEP’s website: Recycling Mercury-added Fluorescent and other Lamps, Waste Management, Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
To report concerns or complaints about noncompliance, individuals can contact Courtney Hafner, Environmental Specialist at the Maine DEP, by phone at (207) 314-3354 or via email at courtney.hafner@maine.gov.
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For additional information, contact:
David R. Madore, Deputy Commissioner
david.madore@maine.gov
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| | | | | | # --- PRESS RELEASE ---
For Immediate Release | | |
New Restrictions on Mercury-Containing Fluorescent Light Bulbs in Maine
AUGUSTA, MAINE, January 21, 2026 — Beginning January 1, 2026, consumers and retailers in Maine will no longer be allowed to sell or distribute mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs. This decision follows the enactment of a ban by the Maine Legislature in 2023, aimed at reducing mercury pollution and protecting public health and the environment. This legislation prohibits offering for sale, selling, or distributing as a new manufactured product any compact fluorescent mercury-containing light bulb or linear fluorescent mercury-containing light bulb. The ban affects a variety of lighting products, including but not limited to linear fluorescent mercury-containing light bulbs, compact fluorescent mercury-containing light bulbs, as well as black light, high-intensity discharge, ultraviolet, and neon mercury-containing light bulbs.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) urges consumers and retailers to review the details of this new ban. For further information, including answers to frequently asked questions about the effected products, please visit the DEP’s website: Recycling Mercury-added Fluorescent and other Lamps, Waste Management, Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
To report concerns or complaints about noncompliance, individuals can contact Courtney Hafner, Environmental Specialist at the Maine DEP, by phone at (207) 314-3354 or via email at courtney.hafner@maine.gov.
| |
For additional information, contact:
David R. Madore, Deputy Commissioner
david.madore@maine.gov
| | | | | | | | | |
| # --- PRESS RELEASE ---
For Immediate Release | | | | | | | |
| | |
New Restrictions on Mercury-Containing Fluorescent Light Bulbs in Maine
AUGUSTA, MAINE, January 21, 2026 — Beginning January 1, 2026, consumers and retailers in Maine will no longer be allowed to sell or distribute mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs. This decision follows the enactment of a ban by the Maine Legislature in 2023, aimed at reducing mercury pollution and protecting public health and the environment. This legislation prohibits offering for sale, selling, or distributing as a new manufactured product any compact fluorescent mercury-containing light bulb or linear fluorescent mercury-containing light bulb. The ban affects a variety of lighting products, including but not limited to linear fluorescent mercury-containing light bulbs, compact fluorescent mercury-containing light bulbs, as well as black light, high-intensity discharge, ultraviolet, and neon mercury-containing light bulbs.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) urges consumers and retailers to review the details of this new ban. For further information, including answers to frequently asked questions about the effected products, please visit the DEP’s website: Recycling Mercury-added Fluorescent and other Lamps, Waste Management, Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
To report concerns or complaints about noncompliance, individuals can contact Courtney Hafner, Environmental Specialist at the Maine DEP, by phone at (207) 314-3354 or via email at courtney.hafner@maine.gov.
| |
For additional information, contact:
David R. Madore, Deputy Commissioner
david.madore@maine.gov
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