Universal Wastes

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Universal Wastes

• UW
• Prepared by Jim Casey, V.I. Coordinator
• U.S. EPA-Reg2

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Introduction

• The Universal Waste Rule (UWR) finalized in May
  11, 1995 FR.  Many states have since adopted it.
• Universal Waste (UW) is a general term used to
  describe wastes generated by a large, diverse
  population of generators (businesses,
  households).

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Introduction

• What UWR does?
• Enable regulation of a wider range of wastes
  under reduced requirements.
• To promote recycling as well as the proper
  disposal of wastes, if recycling is not a viable
  option (by easing certain regulatory
  requirements).
• Reduced management requirements encourage UW
  collection programs.
• ? These programs may include the collection of
  household waste.
• ? The collection of household UW will keep
  these wastes out of the municipal waste streams.

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Kinds of Universal Waste

• Batteries
• Pesticides
• Mercury-Containing Equipment
• Bulbs (Lamps)

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Definition of the respective Universal Wastes

• "Battery"? - a device consisting of one or more
  electrically connected electrochemical cells
  which is designed to receive, store, and deliver
  electric energy.
• "Pesticides"? - any substance or mixture of
  substances intended for preventing, destroying,
  repelling, or mitigating any pest, or intended
  for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or
  desiccant.

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Definition of the respective Universal Wastes
Wastes

• "Mercury-Containing Equipment "? - a device or
  part of a device (including thermostats, but
  excluding batteries and lamps) that contains
  elemental mercury integral to its function.
• "Mercury-Containing Light Bulb (Lamp) "? - 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).

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Definition of the respective Universal Wastes

• The federal universal wastes definitions are set
  forth in 40 CFR 273.9 of the applicable regulation

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Pharmaceuticals

• EPA has proposed adding hazardous pharmaceutical
  wastes to the Universal Waste rule.
• Proposed Rule - December 2, 2008
• Extension of the Comment Period - January 30,
  2009

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Pharmaceuticals

• This proposed rule applies to known generators
• pharmacies
• hospitals
• physicians offices
• dentists offices
• outpatient care centers
• ambulatory health care services
• residential care facilities
• veterinary clinics
• other facilities that generate hazardous
  pharmaceutical wastes

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Pharmaceutical waste

• Any chemical product, vaccine or allergenic
  (including any product with the primary purpose
  to dispense or deliver a chemical product,
  vaccine or allergenic), not containing a
  radioactive component, that is intended for use
  in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or
  prevention of disease or injury in man or other
  animals or any chemical product, vaccine or
  allergenic (including any product with the
  primary purpose to dispense or deliver a chemical
  product, vaccine or allergenic), not containing a
  radioactive component, that is intended to affect
  the structure or function of the body in man or
  other animals.

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Universal Waste Regulations

• The federal universal waste regulations is set
  forth in 40 CFR 273
• States can modify the universal waste rule and
  add additional waste(s) in the individual state
  regulations

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A Comparison of Requirements

• See the UW Handler an Hazardous Waste Generator
  Requirements in table handed out.

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• This proposed rule applies to
• pharmacies, hospitals, physicians offices,
  dentists offices, outpatient care centers,
  ambulatory health care services, residential care
  facilities, veterinary clinics, and other
  facilities that generate hazardous pharmaceutical
  wastes.

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• Frequent Questions
• EPA's universal waste regulations streamline
  hazardous waste management standards for
  federally designated "universal wastes," which
  include batteries
• pesticides
• mercury-containing equipment and
• bulbs (lamps).

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What the Universal Waste Do ?

• The regulations govern the collection and
  management of these widely generated wastes, thus
  facilitating environmentally sound collection and
  proper recycling or treatment. These regulations
  also ease the regulatory burden on retail stores
  and others that wish to collect 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. In addition, the
  regulations also ensure that the wastes subject
  to this system will go to appropriate treatment
  or recycling facilities pursuant to the full
  hazardous waste regulatory controls.

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Requirements for SQ Handlers

• What Are the Waste Management Requirements for
  Small Quantity Handlers of Universal Waste
  Batteries?

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Requirements for LQ Handlers
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Pharmaceuticals

• The EPA is proposing to add hazardous
  pharmaceutical wastes to the Universal Waste Rule
  in order to provide a system for disposing
  hazardous pharmaceutical wastes that is
  protective of public health and the environment. 

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• The rule encourages generators to dispose of
  non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste as universal
  waste, thereby removing this unregulated waste
  from wastewater treatment plants and municipal
  solid waste landfills. The addition of hazardous
  pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule
  will facilitate the collection of personal
  medications from the public at various facilities
  so that they can be more properly managed. 
• Currently the federal Universal Waste Rule
  includes batteries, pesticides,
  mercury-containing equipment, and lamps.
  Universal wastes are typically generated in a
  wide variety of settings including industrial
  settings and households, by many sectors of
  society, and may be present in significant
  volumes in non-hazardous waste management
  systems.

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• Proposed Rule - December 2, 2008
• Extension of the Comment Period - January 30, 2009

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• http//www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_08/40cf
  r273_08.html