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View EPA’s comparison tables for a summary of the main universal waste requirements for generators and transporters and the similarities and differences between the universal waste and hazardous waste requirements.
Frequent questions such as Who is affected by the universal waste regulations? What is “mercury-containing equipment”? How are waste batteries managed under universal waste? How are waste pesticides managed under universal waste?
Universal waste is a category of waste materials designated as "hazardous waste", but containing materials that are very common. It is defined in 40 CFR 273.9 , by the United States Environmental Protection Agency but states may also have corollary regulations regarding these materials.
Universal waste is materials that are RCRA hazardous but subject to more-lenient management requirements in relatively small “household amounts.”. The flip side to that: in large enough quantities, universal waste reverts to being hazmat and must be treated as RCRA hazardous.
A universal waste lamp is defined as the bulb or tube portion of an electric lighting device (§273.9). 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.
The universal waste regulations can vary between states and states can add different types of wastes. EPA compiled a list of which universal wastes which universal wastes states have adopted and which materials some states have added to their universal waste program.
Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that were determined to pose a lower immediate risk to people and the environment compared to other hazardous wastes. These universal wastes are widely produced by households and many different types of businesses.
Universal Waste is a Universal Problem. Universal waste comes primarily from consumer products containing mercury, lead, cadmium and other substances that are hazardous to human health and the environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created regulations to streamline the management of certain types of hazardous waste known as universal wastes. EPA’s federal universal waste regulations in 40 CFR part 273 apply to five specific types of waste: Batteries. Lamps. Pesticides. Mercury-containing equipment. Non-empty aerosol cans.
EPA has designated four specific waste streams that are known as “universal wastes.” These are batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment (like old thermometers), and lamp bulbs. The EPA website details the federal universal waste definitions of each of these waste types.