(a) General rule.--Beginning one year after the effective date of this section, no person, municipality or operator of a solid waste treatment, processing or disposal facility shall knowingly dispose, permit the disposal of or send to a resource recovery facility for processing a mercury thermostat from which the mercury has not been removed for reuse, recycling or other methods approved by the department.

(b) Exception.--No operator of a solid waste treatment, processing or disposal facility shall be found to have knowingly disposed of a mercury thermostat if the facility has notified customers of the ban in writing and posted signs at the facility clearly noting the prohibition.

(c) Construction.--This subsection shall not be construed to affect prior existing laws, rules or regulations more stringent than the provisions under subsection (a) governing the disposal of mercury, mercury thermostats and other products containing mercury.