Batteries, Pesticides, Thermostats and Lamps Wastes

Universal wastes are generated in a wide variety of settings by a large number of facilities, including residences and offices, and may be present in significant volumes in non-hazardous waste management systems. The Universal Waste Rule currently applies to batteries, pesticides, thermostats and fluorescent lamps.

The main focus of the rule is to provide the residential, commercial, and industrial generators of these hazardous wastes more freedom in transporting, collecting, and handling the wastes. The ultimate goal is to reduce the waste stream through increased recycling and reuse of these materials.

Specifically, the Universal Waste Rule encourages recycling by streamlining the requirements related to notification, labeling, marking, prohibitions, accumulation time limits, employee training, responses to releases, offsite shipments, tracking, exports, and transportation. Their shipment does not require a hazardous waste transporter and manifesting is not required.

For more information visit EPA's Universal Waste Web site.