Canada’s National Strategy for Lamps Containing Mercury: Interim Report on Key Findings and Developments

The National Strategy for Lamps Containing Mercury, published in 2019, aims to eliminate this source of mercury pollution in Canada by ensuring lamps containing mercury are collected and recycled responsibly, while encouraging Canadians to buy mercury-free lighting alternatives.

What are the most common lamps containing mercury

• Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
• Linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs)
• High intensity discharge lamps (HID)

The mercury contained in these lamps can be released when disposed of improperly, posing potential risks to human health and the environment. Since 2018, 88 million lamps have been recycled in an environmentally friendly way.

Vision and goals

Eliminate lamps as a source of mercury pollution in Canada.

• Canadians increasingly use mercury-free alternatives
• Canadians do their part to properly manage lamps containing mercury
• Diversion is performed in an environmentally sound manner

Quick facts

Lamps represented 17% of the total quantity of mercury contained in all products manufactured or imported into Canada in 2019. The remainder was found in:

• dental amalgam (74%)
• measuring instruments (5%)
• and other categories of products (3%)

Since their peak in 2007, mercury lamps sales have declined by 77% as Canadians continue to make the switch to mercury-free LED lighting options.

• LED bulbs are mercury-free
• LED bulbs have a longer life span than mercury containing lamps – lasting, on average, 20 years
• LED bulbs are 50% more energy efficient than CFLs

Regulatory changes

To accelerate the transition to LEDs, the Government of Canada intends to prohibit the import and manufacture of most lamps containing mercury. See the Proposed Amendments to the Products Containing Mercury Regulations for details.

Extended Producer Responsibility Programs (EPR)

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy that extends the responsibility for end-of-life management to a product’s manufacturer, first importer or brand owner. By the end of 2024, over 80% of Canadians will have access to a provincially regulated light recycling (EPR) program.

• EPR lighting programs are already in place in British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island
• In 2023, Ontario launched their new lighting EPR program 
• Nova Scotia planning to launch in 2024

How can you make a difference

EPR collection depots, municipal hazardous waste events and drop off locations, combined with voluntary return-to-retail programs continue to provide Canadians with easy and safe disposal opportunities.

Different ways to dispose of lamps containing mercury are available depending on where you live. For provinces with a light-recycling EPR program, visit Product Care Recyling for your closest depot. For other provinces and territories, contact your local municipality for safe disposal opportunities near you.

Contact us

For more information visit Canada’s national strategy for lamps containing mercury or email us at dechethgwaste@ec.gc.ca.