(a) This part establishes requirements for managing the following:

(1) Batteries as described in 40 CFR 273.2;

(2) Pesticides as described in § 273.3;

(3) Mercury-containing equipment as described in § 273.4;

(4) Lamps as described in § 273.5; and

(5) Aerosol cans as described in § 273.6.

(b) This part provides an alternative set of management standards in lieu of regulation under 40 CFR parts 260 through 272.

[60 FR 25542, May 11, 1995, as amended at 64 FR 36488, July 6, 1999; 70 FR 45520, Aug. 5, 2005; 84 FR 67217, Dec. 9, 2019]

(a) Batteries covered under 40 CFR part 273. (1) The requirements of this part apply to persons managing batteries, as described in § 273.9, except those listed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(2) Spent lead-acid batteries which are not managed under 40 CFR part 266, subpart G, are subject to management under this part.

(b) Batteries not covered under 40 CFR part 273. The requirements of this part do not apply to persons managing the following batteries:

(1) Spent lead-acid batteries that are managed under 40 CFR part 266, subpart G.

(2) Batteries, as described in § 273.9, that are not yet wastes under part 261 of this chapter, including those that do not meet the criteria for waste generation in paragraph (c) of this section.

(3) Batteries, as described in § 273.9, that are not hazardous waste. A battery is a hazardous waste if it exhibits one or more of the characteristics identified in part 261, subpart C of this chapter.

(c) Generation of waste batteries. (1) A used battery becomes a waste on the date it is discarded (e.g., when sent for reclamation).

(2) An unused battery becomes a waste on the date the handler decides to discard it.

[60 FR 25542, May 11, 1995, as amended at 64 FR 36488, July 6, 1999]

(a) Pesticides covered under this part 273. The requirements of this part apply to persons managing pesticides, as described in § 273.9, meeting the following conditions, except those listed in paragraph (b) of this section:

(1) Recalled pesticides that are:

(i) Stocks of a suspended and canceled pesticide that are part of a voluntary or mandatory recall under FIFRA Section 19(b), including, but not limited to those owned by the registrant responsible for conducting the recall; or

(ii) Stocks of a suspended or cancelled pesticide, or a pesticide that is not in compliance with FIFRA, that are part of a voluntary recall by the registrant.

(2) Stocks of other unused pesticide products that are collected and managed as part of a waste pesticide collection program.

(b) Pesticides not covered under 40 CFR part 273. The requirements of this part do not apply to persons managing the following pesticides:

(1) Recalled pesticides described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and unused pesticide products described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, that are managed by farmers in compliance with 40 CFR 262.70. (40 CFR 262.70 addresses pesticides disposed of on the farmer's own farm in a manner consistent with the disposal instructions on the pesticide label, providing the container is triple rinsed in accordance with 40 CFR 261.7(b)(3));

(2) Pesticides not meeting the conditions set forth in paragraph (a) of this section. These pesticides must be managed in compliance with the hazardous waste regulations in 40 CFR parts 260 through 272, except that aerosol cans as defined in § 273.9 that contain pesticides may be managed as aerosol can universal waste under § 273.13(e) or § 273.33(e);

(3) Pesticides that are not wastes under part 261 of this chapter, including those that do not meet the criteria for waste generation in paragraph (c) of this section or those that are not wastes as described in paragraph (d) of this section; and

(4) Pesticides that are not hazardous waste. A pesticide is a hazardous waste if it is listed in 40 CFR part 261, subpart D or if it exhibits one or more of the characteristics identified in 40 CFR part 261, subpart C.

(c) When a pesticide becomes a waste. (1) A recalled pesticide described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section becomes a waste on the first date on which both of the following conditions apply:

(i) The generator of the recalled pesticide agrees to participate in the recall; and

(ii) The person conducting the recall decides to discard (e.g., burn the pesticide for energy recovery).

(2) An unused pesticide product described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section becomes a waste on the date the generator decides to discard it.

(d) Pesticides that are not wastes. The following pesticides are not wastes:

(1) Recalled pesticides described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, provided that the person conducting the recall:

(i) Has not made a decision to discard (e.g., burn for energy recovery) the pesticide. Until such a decision is made, the pesticide does not meet the definition of “solid waste” under 40 CFR 261.2; thus the pesticide is not a hazardous waste and is not subject to hazardous waste requirements, including this part 273. This pesticide remains subject to the requirements of FIFRA; or

(ii) Has made a decision to use a management option that, under 40 CFR 261.2, does not cause the pesticide to be a solid waste (i.e., the selected option is use (other than use constituting disposal) or reuse (other than burning for energy recovery), or reclamation). Such a pesticide is not a solid waste and therefore is not a hazardous waste, and is not subject to the hazardous waste requirements including this part 273. This pesticide, including a recalled pesticide that is exported to a foreign destination for use or reuse, remains subject to the requirements of FIFRA.

(2) Unused pesticide products described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, if the generator of the unused pesticide product has not decided to discard (e.g., burn for energy recovery) them. These pesticides remain subject to the requirements of FIFRA.

[60 FR 25542, May 11, 1995, as amended at 64 FR 36488, July 6, 1999; 84 FR 67218, Dec. 9, 2019]

(a) Mercury-containing equipment covered under this part 273. The requirements of this part apply to persons managing mercury-containing equipment, as described in § 273.9, except those listed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Mercury-containing equipment not covered under this part 273. The requirements of this part do not apply to persons managing the following mercury-containing equipment:

(1) Mercury-containing equipment that is not yet a waste under part 261 of this chapter. Paragraph (c) of this section describes when mercury-containing equipment becomes a waste;

(2) Mercury-containing equipment that is not a hazardous waste. Mercury-containing equipment is a hazardous waste if it exhibits one or more of the characteristics identified in part 261, subpart C of this chapter or is listed in part 261, subpart D of this chapter; and

(3) Equipment and devices from which the mercury-containing components have been removed.

(c) Generation of waste mercury-containing equipment. (1) Used mercury-containing equipment becomes a waste on the date it is discarded.

(2) Unused mercury-containing equipment becomes a waste on the date the handler decides to discard it.

[70 FR 45520, Aug. 5, 2005]

(a) Lamps covered under this part 273. The requirements of this part apply to persons managing lamps as described in § 273.9, except those listed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Lamps not covered under this part 273. The requirements of this part do not apply to persons managing the following lamps:

(1) Lamps that are not yet wastes under part 261 of this chapter as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) Lamps that are not hazardous waste. A lamp is a hazardous waste if it exhibits one or more of the characteristics identified in part 261, subpart C of this chapter.

(c) Generation of waste lamps. (1) A used lamp becomes a waste on the date it is discarded.

(2) An unused lamp becomes a waste on the date the handler decides to discard it.

[64 FR 36488, July 6, 1999]

(a) Aerosol cans covered under this part. The requirements of this part apply to persons managing aerosol cans, as described in § 273.9, except those listed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Aerosol cans not covered under this part. The requirements of this part do not apply to persons managing the following types of aerosol cans:

(1) Aerosol cans that are not yet waste under part 261 of this chapter. Paragraph (c) of this section describes when an aerosol can becomes a waste;

(2) Aerosol cans that are not hazardous waste. An aerosol can is a hazardous waste if the aerosol can exhibits one or more of the characteristics identified in part 261, subpart C, of this chapter or the aerosol can contains a substance that is listed in part 261, subpart D, of this chapter; and

(3) Aerosol cans that meet the standard for empty containers under § 261.7 of this chapter.

(c) Generation of waste aerosol cans. (1) A used aerosol can becomes a waste on the date it is discarded.

(2) An unused aerosol can becomes a waste on the date the handler decides to discard it.

[84 FR 67218, Dec. 9, 2019]

(a) Persons managing the wastes listed below may, at their option, manage them under the requirements of this part:

(1) Household wastes that are exempt under § 261.4(b)(1) of this chapter and are also of the same type as the universal wastes defined at § 273.9; and/or

(2) Very small quantity generator wastes that are exempt under § 262.14 of this chapter and are also of the same type as the universal wastes defined at § 273.9.

(b) Persons who commingle the wastes described in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section together with universal waste regulated under this part must manage the commingled waste under the requirements of this part.

[64 FR 36488, July 6, 1999, as amended at 81 FR 85828, Nov. 28, 2016]

Aerosol can means a non-refillable receptacle containing a gas compressed, liquefied, or dissolved under pressure, the sole purpose of which is to expel a liquid, paste, or powder and fitted with a self-closing release device allowing the contents to be ejected by the gas.

Ampule means an airtight vial made of glass, plastic, metal, or any combination of these materials.

Battery means a device consisting of one or more electrically connected electrochemical cells which is designed to receive, store, and deliver electric energy. An electrochemical cell is a system consisting of an anode, cathode, and an electrolyte, plus such connections (electrical and mechanical) as may be needed to allow the cell to deliver or receive electrical energy. The term battery also includes an intact, unbroken battery from which the electrolyte has been removed.

Destination facility means a facility that treats, disposes of, or recycles a particular category of universal waste, except those management activities described in § 273.13 (a) and (c) and § 273.33 (a) and (c). A facility at which a particular category of universal waste is only accumulated, is not a destination facility for purposes of managing that category of universal waste.

FIFRA means the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136-136y).

Generator means any person, by site, whose act or process produces hazardous waste identified or listed in part 261 of this chapter or whose act first causes a hazardous waste to become subject to regulation.

Lamp, also referred to as “universal waste lamp” is defined as the bulb or tube portion of an electric lighting device. A lamp is specifically designed to produce radiant energy, most often in the ultraviolet, visible, and infra-red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Examples of common universal waste electric lamps include, but are not limited to, fluorescent, high intensity discharge, neon, mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps.

Large quantity handler of universal waste means a universal waste handler (as defined in this section) who accumulates 5,000 kilograms or more total of universal waste (batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment, lamps, or aerosol cans, calculated collectively) at any time. This designation as a large quantity handler of universal waste is retained through the end of the calendar year in which the 5,000-kilogram limit is met or exceeded.

Mercury-containing equipment means a device or part of a device (including thermostats, but excluding batteries and lamps) that contains elemental mercury integral to its function.

On-site means the same or geographically contiguous property which may be divided by public or private right-of-way, provided that the entrance and exit between the properties is at a cross-roads intersection, and access is by crossing as opposed to going along the right of way. Non-contiguous properties owned by the same person but connected by a right-of-way which he controls and to which the public does not have access, are also considered on-site property.

Pesticide means any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest, or intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant, other than any article that:

(1) Is a new animal drug under FFDCA section 201(w); or

(2) Is an animal drug that has been determined by regulation of the Secretary of Health and Human Services not to be a new animal drug; or

(3) Is an animal feed under FFDCA section 201(x) that bears or contains any substances described by paragraph (1) or (2) of this definition.

Small quantity handler of universal waste means a universal waste handler (as defined in this section) who does not accumulate 5,000 kilograms or more of universal waste (batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment, lamps, or aerosol cans, calculated collectively) at any time.

Thermostat means a temperature control device that contains metallic mercury in an ampule attached to a bimetal sensing element, and mercury-containing ampules that have been removed from these temperature control devices in compliance with the requirements of 40 CFR 273.13(c)(2) or 273.33(c)(2).

Universal waste means any of the following hazardous wastes that are subject to the universal waste requirements of this part:

(1) Batteries as described in § 273.2;

(2) Pesticides as described in § 273.3;

(3) Mercury-containing equipment as described in § 273.4;

(4) Lamps as described in § 273.5; and

(5) Aerosol cans as described in § 273.6.

Universal waste handler:

(1) Means:

(i) A generator (as defined in this section) of universal waste; or

(ii) The owner or operator of a facility, including all contiguous property, that receives universal waste from other universal waste handlers, accumulates universal waste, and sends universal waste to another universal waste handler, to a destination facility, or to a foreign destination.

(2) Does not mean:

(i) A person who treats (except under the provisions of § 273.13(a) or (c), or § 273.33(a) or (c)), disposes of, or recycles (except under the provisions of § 273.13(e) or § 273.33(e)) universal waste; or

(ii) A person engaged in the off-site transportation of universal waste by air, rail, highway, or water, including a universal waste transfer facility.

Universal waste transfer facility means any transportation-related facility including loading docks, parking areas, storage areas and other similar areas where shipments of universal waste are held during the normal course of transportation for ten days or less.

Universal waste transporter means a person engaged in the off-site transportation of universal waste by air, rail, highway, or water.

[60 FR 25542, May 11, 1995, as amended at 63 FR 71230, Dec. 24, 1998. Redesignated and amended at 64 FR 36488, 36489, July 6, 1999; 70 FR 45521, Aug. 5, 2005; 71 FR 40280, July 14, 2006; 84 FR 67218, Dec. 9, 2019]