Universal Waste: Batteries, Lamps and More

There is another group of wastes that have been given a special regulatory designation called “Universal Waste”.  EPA’s universal waste regulations streamline the hazardous waste management standards for certain categories of hazardous waste that are commonly generated by a wide variety of establishments. The streamlined regulations are designed to promote their collection and recycling, ease regulatory burden and encourage the development of municipal and commercial programs to reduce the quantity of these wastes going to municipal solid waste landfills or incinerators.

Universal waste regulations apply to five types of universal waste:

  • Batteries,
  • Pesticides,
  • Mercury-Containing Equipment,
  • Lamps, and
  • Aerocol Cans.

Universal waste batteries do not include common alkaline batteries but rather those hazardous waste batteries such as nickel-cadmium batteries.

Universal waste pesticide include only those that are either suspended and recalled by the federal government

Universal waste aerosol cans is a relatively new addition to the list one and that UK is just beginning to incorporate into its waste management options. 

There are minimal but important requirements related to Universal Waste including specific accumulation times, containerization and labeling. In general, materials managed as universal waste can be stored for a year and are not required to be shipped with a manifest or by a hazardous waste transporter.  

The specific requirements within the accumulation area are:

  • Unlike Hazardous Waste, containers accumulating Universal Waste must be dated as soon as the container is started to be filled.
  • Universal Waste containers may not be accumulated for longer than 1 year.
  • The container must be closed unless something is being added to it.
  • The container must be labeled Universal Waste – XXXX where the X is the material.  As an example, Universal Waste – Lamps.  Universal Waste labels may be obtained from the Environmental Quality Management Department (EQM).

Obviously, lamps are the most common of the Universal Waste streams and it is one along with batteries that is handled by UK Recycling instead of the EQM.  If you generate universal waste, the UK Recycling will be happy to collect your batteries and lamps to recycle them.

If you generate mercury-containing equipment or pesticides, please submit an E-trax request for pick-up.   Remember that all universal wastes must be managed in a way that prevents releases of any universal waste or component of a universal waste to the environment, and a universal waste cannot be stored for longer than one year.

If you generate aerosol cans, contact Maridely Loyselle, Assistant Director, for more information.