What are Universal Wastes?
Universal wastes are specific hazardous waste streams that facilities can choose to manage in an alternative manner in place of the more complex hazardous waste requirements. These wastes are typically generated by many facilites and are often not properly managed under hazardous waste regulations.
Universal wastes are certain commonly generated hazardous wastes. Specifically, a hazardous waste exhibiting any of the following characteristics can be classified as a universal waste: • The waste is frequently generated in a wide variety of settings (other than industrial settings usually associated with hazardous wastes). • The waste is generated in a vast community and in sufficient quantities to cause difficulties in managing the waste properly for both the regulated community and the regulators. • The waste is present in significant volumes in the municipal solid waste stream (non-hazardous waste management systems).
