tarheels4
8th September 2005, 03:35 PM
This relates to ISO 14001:2004 element 4.3.2 Legal and Other Requirements. EPA has added mercury containing equipment to Universal Waste rules. This happened in August.
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/electron/crt.htm
"EPA Designates Mercury-Containing Equipment as Universal Waste
Effective August 5, 2005, mercury-containing equipment is considered universal waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations. Under this rule, handlers of mercury-containing equipment are required to place mercury in specific containers to prevent releases; they must also dispose of or recycle the waste through an approved hazardous waste facility. EPA estimates that this rule will impact 1,877 generators who collectively handle 550 tons of mercury-containing equipment. Mercury is found in commonly used devices such as barometers, temperature gauges, pressure gauges, and automobile light switches.
The universal waste management system promotes recycling of mercury-containing products by providing more streamlined, less stringent requirements for collecting, storing, and transporting certain wastes (e.g., batteries, thermostats, pesticides, and lamps). The decreased regulatory burden also encourages waste handlers to dispose of these wastes properly. Overall, compliance with hazardous waste regulations is made easier by the flexibility of the universal waste standards. For instance, handlers of universal waste are allowed to collect these wastes on site for a longer period of time and are not required to use a hazardous waste transporter when transporting the wastes.
Additional information on the rule is available on the “Discarded Mercury-Containing Equipment Rule” Web site or submit a question to the OSW “answer” database."
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/electron/crt.htm
"EPA Designates Mercury-Containing Equipment as Universal Waste
Effective August 5, 2005, mercury-containing equipment is considered universal waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations. Under this rule, handlers of mercury-containing equipment are required to place mercury in specific containers to prevent releases; they must also dispose of or recycle the waste through an approved hazardous waste facility. EPA estimates that this rule will impact 1,877 generators who collectively handle 550 tons of mercury-containing equipment. Mercury is found in commonly used devices such as barometers, temperature gauges, pressure gauges, and automobile light switches.
The universal waste management system promotes recycling of mercury-containing products by providing more streamlined, less stringent requirements for collecting, storing, and transporting certain wastes (e.g., batteries, thermostats, pesticides, and lamps). The decreased regulatory burden also encourages waste handlers to dispose of these wastes properly. Overall, compliance with hazardous waste regulations is made easier by the flexibility of the universal waste standards. For instance, handlers of universal waste are allowed to collect these wastes on site for a longer period of time and are not required to use a hazardous waste transporter when transporting the wastes.
Additional information on the rule is available on the “Discarded Mercury-Containing Equipment Rule” Web site or submit a question to the OSW “answer” database."
