51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Fluorescent light ballasts are at a shop in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 10, 2026. As of January 1, 2026, the manufacture and sale of most common fluorescent lamps containing mercury are prohibited in Canada. The initiative is part of a nationwide pledge to reduce mercury pollution per its obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a United Nations program that over 140 countries have signed onto. Retailers are allowed to continue to sell their existing stock until the end of 2029, with a goal of completely eliminating their sale by the end of the decade. Consumers are directed to mercury-free alternatives, like LED lighting. (Photo by 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images)