Hazardous Waste - Universal Wastes

Universal Wastes

Universal wastes are special category of hazardous wastes that (in the U.S.):

  • generally pose a lower threat relative to other hazardous wastes
  • are ubiquitous and produced in very large quantities by a large number of generators.

Some of the most common "universal wastes" are: fluorescent light bulbs, some specialty batteries (e.g. lithium or lead containing batteries), cathode ray tubes, and mercury-containing devices.

Universal wastes are subject to somewhat less stringent regulatory requirements and small quantity generators of universal wastes may be classified as "conditionally exempt small quantity generators" (CESQGs) which releases them from some of the regulatory requirements for the handling and storage hazardous wastes.

Universal wastes must still be disposed of properly. (For more information, see Overview of Requirements for Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators)

Read more about this topic:  Hazardous Waste

Famous quotes containing the words universal and/or wastes:

    All nature wears one universal grin.
    Henry Fielding (1707–1754)

    We are close to dead. There are faces and bodies like gorged maggots on the dance floor, on the highway, in the city, in the stadium; they are a host of chemical machines who swallow the product of chemical factories, aspirin, preservatives, stimulant, relaxant, and breathe out their chemical wastes into a polluted air. The sense of a long last night over civilization is back again.
    Norman Mailer (b. 1923)