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UNIVERSAL WASTE

Universal Waste Services

In general, materials managed as universal waste can be stored for a year and are not required to be shipped with a manifest. In addition, universal wastes do not need to be counted toward a generator’s category for the purpose of determining whether it is a very small quantity generator, small quantity generator, or large quantity generator. The universal waste regulations do require that the materials be managed in a way to prevent releases to the environment and tailors those requirements to each type of universal waste (for small quantity handlers and for large quantity handlers). Finally, the standards also include labeling, a requirement to respond to releases, and transport to a facility that is permitted or otherwise designated for receiving hazardous waste, like a recycler.

The EPA’s universal waste regulations streamlined hazardous waste management standards for federally designated “universal wastes”, which include:

Bulbs
E-waste
Mercury-Containing Equipment
Batteries

As with other wastes, the government regulates the collection, management and recycling of these widely generated wastes. To keep our clients in compliance with government regulations, Pollution Control Inc. provides an economical and environmentally sound disposal solution for your universal wastes. If you are not sure what type of waste you have, call us today or schedule a Free Consultation, so we can help you identify your waste disposal needs.
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Universal Waste Program

EPA’s universal waste regulations streamline the hazardous waste management standards for certain categories of hazardous waste that are commonly generated by a wide variety of establishments. The streamlined regulations:

promote the collection and recycling of universal waste,
ease the regulatory burden on retail stores and other generators that wish to collect these wastes and transporters of these wastes, and
encourage the development of municipal and commercial programs to reduce the quantity of these wastes going to municipal solid waste landfills or combustors.
The federal universal waste regulations are found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in part 273 and apply to four types of universal waste:

Batteries
Pesticides
Mercury-Containing Equipment
Lamps
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Types of Federal Universal Waste

The federal regulations identify four specific categories of materials that can be managed as universal wastes: batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment and lamps. The part 273 regulations define the type of materials that fall under the universal waste categories and specify in what situations that material can be considered a universal waste.
  • Batteries

    40 CFR section 273.9 defines a battery as a device consisting of one or more electrically connected electrochemical cells which is designed to receive, store, and deliver electric energy. An electrochemical cell is a system consisting of an anode, cathode, and an electrolyte, plus such connections (electrical and mechanical) as may be needed to allow the cell to deliver or receive electrical energy. The term battery also includes an intact, unbroken battery from which the electrolyte has been removed.

  • Pesticides

    The universal waste regulations can be used to manage pesticides that have been recalled if they are either stocks of a suspended and canceled pesticide that are part of a voluntary or mandatory recall under FIFRA Section 19(b) (including, but not limited to those owned by the registrant responsible for conducting the recall) or if they are stocks of a suspended or canceled pesticide, or a pesticide that is not in compliance with FIFRA, that are part of a voluntary recall by the registrant. Universal waste can also be used to manage stocks of other unused pesticide products that are collected and managed as part of a waste pesticide collection program.

  • Mercury-Containing Equipment

    40 CFR part 273.9 defines mercury-containing equipment as a device or part of a device (including thermostats, but excluding batteries and lamps) that contains elemental mercury integral to its function.

  • Lamps

    40 CFR part 273.9 defines a lamp as the bulb or tube portion of an electric lighting device. A lamp is specifically designed to produce radiant energy most often in the ultraviolet, visible, and infra-red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Examples of common universal waste electric lamps include, but are not limited to, fluorescent, high intensity discharge, neon, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps.

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