Universal Waste

Universal Waste is a Universal Problem

Universal waste comes primarily from consumer products containing mercury, lead, cadmium and other substances that are hazardous to human health and the environment. These items cannot be discarded in household trash nor disposed of in landfills. Examples of universal waste are batteries, fluorescent tubes, and many electronic devices.

• Updated Universal Waste Fact Sheet
• Information on the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act of 2008

Types of Universal Wastes and What Makes Them Hazardous

• Photovoltaic (PV) Modules (Includes Solar Panels) – Universal Waste Management Regulations
• Batteries — Includes most household batteries, AAA, AA, C, D, button cell, 9-volt, and all others, both rechargeable and single use –Cadmium, Copper and (In older batteries) Mercury
• DTSC Certified Appliance Recyclers (CAR) — Mercury, Used Oil, CFCs, HCFCs, PCBs, DEHP
• Discarded Battery Management at Facilities Handling Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials
• Electronic Waste and CRTs — Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, PCBs
• Fluorescent Lamps — Mercury
• Information on the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act of 2008
• Mercury wastes like thermometers and toys — Mercury
• Non-empty Aerosol Cans — Propane, Butane, Pesticides
• Resources
• Regulations and Policies