oEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
April 2002
EPA530-F-02-018
www.epa.gov/osw
More Recycling and Reuse Proposed
For Electronic Wastes and Mercury-
Containing Equipment
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is promoting the safe
reuse and recycling of cathode ray tubes and mercury-containing
equipment. The Agency believes that revising existing regulations for
these growing waste streams will facilitate better collection; lead to
more recycling and less disposal; and will better protect the environ-
ment. It will also help keep mercury and lead out of municipal landfills
and incinerators.
Background
Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs). CRTs are the video display components of
televisions and computer monitors. CRT glass typically contains enough lead
to be classified as hazardous waste when it's being recycled or disposed of.
Currently, businesses and other organizations that recycle or dispose of their
CRTs are confused about the applicability of hazardous waste management
requirements to their computer or television monitors. The Agency is propos-
ing to revise regulations to encourage opportunities to safely collect, reuse, and
recycle CRTs.
Mercury-containing Equipment. 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, tempera-
ture gauges, pressure gauges, sprinkler system contacts, and parts of coal
conveyor systems. EPA has received data on mercury-containing equipment
since 1995, when it issued the first federal universal waste rule. The Agency
believes that adding mercury-containing devices to the universal waste stream
will facilitate better management of this waste.
Universal wastes are items such as batteries, thermostats, pesticides, and
lamps that are commonly thrown into the trash by households and small
businesses. Handlers of universal wastes follow tailored standards for storing,
transporting, and collecting wastes. These standards are designed to encourage
collection and keep these wastes out of municipal landfills and incinerators.
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Action
Cathode Ray Tubes. To encourage more reuse and recycling, intact
CRTs being sent for possible reuse are considered to be products rather than
waste, and therefore not regulated unless they are being disposed of. If CRT
handlers disassemble the CRTs and send the glass for recycling, EPA is also
proposing to exclude them from being a waste, provided they comply with
simplified storage, labeling, and transportation requirements. Furthermore, the
Agency believes that if broken CRTs are properly containerized and labeled
when stored or shipped before recycling, they resemble commodities more
than waste.
Finally, processed glass being sent to a CRT glass manufacturer or a lead
smelter is excluded from hazardous waste management under most conditions.
If the glass is being sent to any other kind of recycler, it must be packaged and
labeled the same as broken CRTs. The Agency believes that these proposed
changes will encourage the recycling of these materials, while minimizing the
possibility of releasing lead into the environment.
Mercury-containing Equipment. The universal waste rule tailors man-
agement requirements to the nature of the waste in order to encourage collec-
tion (including household collections) and proper management. Universal
waste generators, collectors, and transporters must follow specific
recordkeeping, storage and transportation requirements. The Agency is pro-
posing the same tailored requirements for mercury-containing equipment.
Final disposal and recycling requirements remain unchanged.
For More Information
This fact sheet and other documents related to this rule are available on the
Internet at .
For additional information, or to order paper copies of any documents, contact
the RCRA Call Center. The Call Center operates weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m., and may be reached by dialing: 703-412-9810, TDD 703-412-3323, 1-
800-424-9346, or TDD 1-800-553-7672.
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