On August 5, 2005, the U.S. EPA published a final rule adding
mercury-containing equipment to the list of universal wastes subject to
less stringent management standards under the RCRA hazardous waste
program. "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. According to EPA,
some commonly recognized mercury-containing devices are thermostats,
barometers, manometers, flow meters, mercury light switches, mercury
regulators, pressure relief gauges, water treatment gauges, and gas
safety relays. Batteries and lamps continue to be regulated separately
under the universal waste rules. The rule is effective immediately.
The new rule is expected to increase the amount of mercury being
diverted from the non-hazardous waste stream into the hazardous waste
stream, including the hazardous waste recycling stream. Prior
experience with other universal wastes, particularly nickel-cadmium
batteries have shown that collection increases under the universal waste
rules. Greater collection and consolidation of mercury-containing
equipment should make recycling easier.
