Universal waste handlers

There are two types of handlers of universal waste. The first type of handler is a person who generates, or creates, universal waste. For example, this may include a person who uses batteries, pesticides, thermostats, or lamps and who eventually decides that they are no longer usable. The second type of handler is a person who receives universal waste from other handlers, accumulates the waste, and then sends it on to other handlers, recyclers, or treatment or disposal facilities without performing the actual treatment, recycling, or disposal. This may include a person who collects batteries, pesticides, or thermostats from small businesses and sends the wastes to a recycling facility. The universal waste handler requirements depend on how much universal waste a handler accumulates at any one time. 

Universal waste handlers This could be (1) a business that generated (needs to dispose of) a universal waste (fluorescent lights, for instance) (2) a take-back program and (3) a collection program. 

Universal waste destination facilities The facilities that recycle, treat, or dispose of universal wastes as hazardous waste (no longer universal waste). Note that this does not include facilities that only store universal waste since those facilities qualify as a universal waste handler. 

There are only two categories of universal waste handlers ... 

Universal waste management does not require use of a manifest or a licensed transporter to transport the waste to a permitted treatment, storage or disposal facility. More importantly, management as universal waste allows facilities that meet universal waste handler requirements to accumulate these wastes without having to comply with the full set of hazardous waste management regulations. 

Shipping You may only ship universal waste to other universal waste handlers or facilities designated to treat, dispose, or recycle the waste, or a foreign destination and... 

Small quantity handlers of universal waste (SQHUW). 

Universal waste transporters are persons who transport universal waste from handlers of universal waste to other handlers, destination facilities, or foreign destinations. These wastes do not need to be accompanied by an RCRA hazardous waste manifest during transport, but transporters must comply with applicable Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements. 

SQHUW Small quantity handler of universal waste... 

For proper management and disposal of the aforementioned universal wastes, a waste generator, a waste handler, a transporter, or a destination facility must understand the legal definitions of wastes and their legal status. The following is an overview of legal definitions and related requirements. 

Small quantity handlers of universal waste (SQHUW) A handler that accumulates <5000kg (11,0001b) of universal waste at any one time. 

Universal waste transporter A transporter that transports universal waste from handlers to other handlers, destination facilities, or foreign destinations. 

The federal universal waste mles allow handlers to handle waste at an intermediate level of regulation. Universal waste mles are designed to encourage recycling and reuse, rather than disposal. The main universal waste categories are ... 

Large Quantity handlers may accumulate 5,000 kg or more of universal waste at any point in time during the year. Both handler categories may store universal... 

Technolo es for Recycling Post-Consumer Mixed Plastics—Plastic Lumber Production, Emerging Separation Technologies, Waste Plastic Handlers and Equipment Manufacturers, prepared by Bruce A. Hegberg, Gary R. Brenniman and William H. Hallenbeck of the University of Illinois Center for Solid Waste Management and Research for the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Office of Solid Waste and Renewable Resources, March 1991. 

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