Managing Universal Waste

The Standards for Universal Waste Management 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 335 Subchapter H) are intended to streamline management of certain hazardous wastes generated at a large number of sites and to ensure that these wastes are not fully regulated as hazardous waste. These regulations are designed to facilitate the environmentally sound collection and increase the proper recycling or treatment of these wastes:

• hazardous waste batteries as described in 40 CFR §273.2. For more information on handling battery waste, please visit EPA's Technical Requirements web page;
• certain pesticides as described in 40 CFR §273.3. For more information on handling pesticide waste, please visit EPA's Technical Requirements web page;
• mercury-containing thermostats as described in 40 CFR §273.4. For more information on handling thermostat waste, please visit EPA's Technical Requirements web page;
• paint and paint-related waste as described in 30 TAC §335.262(b). See Managing Paint and Paint-Related Waste under the Universal Waste Rule (RG-370) for more information; and
• lamps as described in 40 CFR §273.5. See Universal Waste Regulations for Hazardous Lamps in Texas (RG-377) for more information.

The EPA currently does not require generators, recyclers, or treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facilities to follow the universal waste rule. Generally, a waste managed as a universal waste is not subject to regulations for generators, transporters, recyclers, or TSD facilities except for some limited requirements specified in the universal waste rule.