State Representative Julia B. Wasserman, R-106th District, has introduced legislation that would improve the process of purchasing or disposing of antique items containing mercury, such as antique thermometers and barometers. House Bill 6567, An Act Concerning An Exemption For Antiques, has been submitted to the legislature’s environment committee. It was introduced at the request of a constituent, said Representative Wasserman.

State and federal legislation has heavily regulated the sale and transfer of products containing mercury. While products manufactured prior to 2004 are exempt from state law regarding their sale or disposal, they must have documentation of their date of manufacture. Many antique items however, have no such documentation, and companies that produced them are often no longer in business.

HB 6567 would allow antiques dealers to verify that items were manufactured prior to 2004, thus facilitating their sale and/or disposal.

“People who wish to sell or even throw away certain antiques have run afoul of the law,” said Representative Wasserman. “This bill provides a practical solution that keeps the safeguards to our environment in place.”