In February 2006, the State of California made it illegal to dispose of universal wastes -- common items such as batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and consumer electronics that contain toxic heavy metals or corrosive materials -- in the garbage.

 

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  • What is Universal Waste?
    • Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that are generated by a wide variety of people and contain mercury, lead, cadmium, copper and other substances hazardous to human and environmental health. Universal waste may not be discarded in solid waste landfills.
    • The best way to reduce the harmful effects of universal waste on human health and the environment is to reduce consumption. The next best thing is to make sure you DON’T throw them in the trash!
    • These items become universal waste when they are no longer useful or are discarded:
      • Cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Waste (CRTs), also known as picture tubes, are found in devices such as televisions and computer monitors
      • Batteries. Universal waste batteries include rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, silver button batteries, mercury batteries, small sealed lead acid batteries (burglar alarm and emergency light batteries), most alkaline batteries, carbon-zinc batteries, and any other batteries that exhibit a characteristic of a hazardous waste. NOTE: Spent automotive-type lead acid storage batteries are not universal waste. They are hazardous wastes that are managed under a different set of regulatory requirements.
      • Lamps. Universal waste lamps include fluorescent tubes and bulbs, high intensity discharge lamps, sodium vapor lamps, and any other type of lamps that exhibit a characteristic of a hazardous waste. Also, any electric lamp that contains added mercury, whether or not it exhibits a hazardous waste characteristic, is a universal waste.
      • Electronic devices. These include any electronic equipment without a CRT, such as cell phones and telephones, computer CPUs and printers, VCRs and portable DVD players that exhibits a hazardous waste characteristic.
      • Mercury thermostats. These thermostats contain small glass capsules with mercury, a shiny liquid metal, to make electrical contact. (Modern electronic thermostats do not contain mercury.)
      • Non-empty aerosol cans. These are universal wastes if they contain an ignitable or toxic propellant or if the contents exhibit any hazardous waste characteristic. 
      • Mercury switches. Two different types of mercury switches are universal wastes:
        • Motor vehicle switches that contain mercury. Any mercury switch that is removed from a vehicle is a universal waste. When they are to be crushed for scrap, vehicles that contain mercury light switches are also universal waste until the mercury light switches are removed.
        • Non-automotive mercury switches and products that contain them. These switches include thermostats and tip switches in portable heaters, washing machine out-of-balance switches, silent wall switches, and other mercury-containing switches and products containing them. All discarded products that contain mercury switches are universal wastes.
      • Mercury thermometers, including fever thermometers.
      • Pressure or vacuum gauges that contain mercury such as U-tube manometers, barometers, and sphygmomanometers (blood pressure meters.)
      • Dilators and weighted tubing. These medical devices contain mercury.
      • Rubber flooring that contains mercury. Some older gymnasium floors that were poured in place to form indoor tracks and gymnastic areas contain mercury.
      • Mercury-Added Novelties. This category includes practical joke items, figurines, jewelry, toys, games, cards, ornaments, yard statues and figures, candles, holiday decorations, and foot-wear that contain mercury or mercury batteries. Effective January 1, 2003, the California Mercury Reduction Act banned sale of mercury-added novelties in this state, but some people still have them in their homes.
      • Mercury gas flow regulators. These older gas flow regulators are managed exclusively by natural gas utilities.
      • Counterweights and dampers, including devices that use mercury’s high density to dampen shaking on hunting bows and snow skis or to absorb recoil on shotguns.
      • Dental amalgam tooth filling materials including waste amalgam, bits and pieces from chair side traps, and spent wastewater filters.
      • Gauges. Vacuum and pressure gauges that contain mercury, including blood pressure gauges, barometers, and manometers.

 

 

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