• Promotes proper recycling or disposal of hazardous waste batteries, pesticides, thermostats, and lamps which will reduce the amount of hazardous waste items in the municipal solid waste stream.
• Provides for collection opportunities for communities and businesses.
As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) commitment to reinvent environmental regulations, the Agency recently issued the " Universal Waste Rule." This rule is designed to reduce the amount of hazardous waste items in the municipal
solid waste (MSW) stream, encourage recycling and proper disposal of certain common hazardous wastes, and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses that generate these wastes.
By reducing administrative requirements, this rule is expected to save companies more than $70 million per year in compliance costs and reduce the amount of time spent on paperwork requirements by over 500,000 hours per year.
Administrative reductions also would help encourage collection and recycling programs, thereby reducing the amount of these common hazardous items that are thrown into the trash by households and small businesses. Removing these materials from municipal landfills and incinerators will prevent a potential threat to public health and the environment.
WHAT ARE UNIVERSAL WASTES?
Universal wastes include:
• Batteries such as nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) and small sealed lead-acid batteries, which are found in many common items in the business and home setting, including electronic equipment, mobile telephones, portable computers, and emergency backup lighting.
• Cathode Ray Tubes, the video display components of television and computer monitors, typically contain lead. Mercury is contained in several types of instruments that are commonly used by electric utilities, municipalities, and households. Among others, these devices include barometers, meters, temperature gauges, pressure gauges, sprinkler system contacts, and parts of coal conveyor systems.
• Thermostats, which can contain as much as 3 grams of liquid mercury and are located in almost any building, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, community, and household buildings.
Agricultural pesticides that have been recalled or banned from use, are obsolete, have become damaged, or are no longer needed due to changes in cropping patterns or other factors. They often are stored for long periods of time in sheds or barns.
Businesses
Universal wastes are generated by small and large businesses that are regulated under RCRA and have been required to handle these materials as hazardous wastes. The Universal Waste Rule eases the regulatory burden on businesses that generate these wastes. Specifically, it streamlines the requirements related to notification, labeling, marking, prohibitions, accumulation time limits, employee training, response to releases, offsite shipments, tracking, exports, and transportation. For example, the rule extends the amount of time that businesses can accumulate these materials on site. It also allows companies to transport them with a common carrier, instead of a hazardous waste transporter, and no longer requires companies to obtain a manifest.
• Many industries strongly support this new rule because they have identified easy collection of universal wastes as a priority to ensure sound environmental management. This rule will make it easier for companies to establish collection programs and participate in manufacturer take-back programs required by a number of states. Many large manufacturers and trade associations are already planning national and regional collection programs for their products.
•The rule does not apply to businesses that generate less than 100 kilograms of universal wastes per month (Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators). EPA encourages these businesses to participate voluntarily in collection and recycling programs by bringing these wastes to collection centers for proper treatment and disposal.
• Universal wastes also are generated by individual households, which are not regulated under RCRA and are allowed to dispose of these wastes in the trash. While new MSW landfills are designed to handle small amounts of hazardous wastes, these wastes can be better managed in a designated program for collection or recycling. EPA encourages residents to take these items to collection sites located at nearby businesses and other centers for proper recycling or disposal.
• Communities in states that adopt this rule can work with both businesses and residents to facilitate proper recycling or disposal of universal wastes. By easing the regulatory burden on businesses, more collection sites will be available. Communities can establish collection programs or assist collection programs set up by area businesses.
| Home |