&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
July 2005
EPA530-F-05-010
www.epa.gov/osw
Hereuty-Containing
Equipment               as
             The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking another major step to
         eliminate mercury in the environment by changing the waste management require-
         ments/or mercury-containing equipment. The new process encourages recovery and
         improved, safe management of mercury waste.

    Action
       EPA is adding mercury-containing equipment to the universal waste rule. The universal
    waste rule provides streamlined management requirements tailored to several different kinds
    of waste. The types of waste in the universal waste rule are frequently thrown in the trash
    by unregulated households and small businesses. Classifying an item as a universal waste
    provides flexibility for its proper management and can prevent the item from entering munici-
    pal trash. Instead, it can be readily collected and disposed of at a hazardous waste facility.

       Handlers of this new category of universal waste must prevent mercury releases by
    using specific containers that will not release any mercury.  Final disposal and recycling
    requirements remain the same as for other federally regulated hazardous waste.

       Mercury-containing equipment includes devices, items, or articles that contain varying
    amounts of elemental mercury, including several types of instruments that are used through-
    out electric utilities and other industries, municipalities, and households. Some commonly
    recognized devices are thermostats, barometers, manometers, temperature  and pressure
    gauges, and mercury switches, such as light switches in automobiles. Other items currently
    classified as universal waste are batteries, thermostats, pesticides, and lamps.

    impact
       EPA estimates  1,877 generators handling approximately 550 tons of mercury-containing
    equipment will be affected by this rule. The Agency's analysis shows that adding used
    mercury-containing equipment to the universal waste program will improve implementation
    of, and compliance with, the federal hazardous waste program. The addition also will estab-
    lish more facilities to consolidate mercury waste as well as reduce emissions from mercury.

    For More information
       Please  visit us on the Web at: .

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