The 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.
Universal Waste Types
- Batteries
- Pesticides
- Mercury Containing Equipment/Articles
- Lamps
- Aerosol Cans
Who’s Required to Comply
- Small quantity handlers of universal waste (accumulates less than 5,000 kg)
- Large quantity handlers of universal waste (accumulates 5,000 kg or more)
- Universal waste transporters
- Universal waste destination facilities