La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § V-3843

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section V-3843 - Waste Management

A. Universal Waste Batteries. A large quantity handler of universal waste must manage universal waste batteries in a way that prevents releases of any universal waste or component of a universal waste to the environment, as follows:

1. a large quantity handler of universal waste must contain any universal waste battery that shows evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions in a container. The container must be closed, structurally sound, compatible with the contents of the battery, and must lack evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions;

2. a large quantity handler of universal waste may conduct the following activities as long as the casing of each individual battery cell is not breached and remains intact and closed (except that cells may be opened to remove electrolyte but must be immediately closed after removal):

a. sorting batteries by type;

b. mixing battery types in one container;

c. discharging batteries so as to remove the electric charge;

d. regenerating used batteries;

e. disassembling batteries or battery packs into individual batteries or cells;

f. removing batteries from consumer products; or

g. removing electrolyte from batteries; and

3. a large quantity handler of universal waste who removes electrolyte from batteries, or who generates other solid waste (e.g., battery pack materials, discarded consumer products) as a result of the activities listed above, must determine whether the electrolyte and/or other solid waste exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste identified in LAC 33:V.4903:

a. if the electrolyte and/or other solid waste exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste, it must be managed in compliance with all applicable requirements of these regulations. The handler is considered the generator of the hazardous electrolyte and/or other waste and is subject to LAC 33:V.Chapters 10 and 11;

b. if the electrolyte or other solid waste does not exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste, the handler may manage the waste in any way that is in compliance with applicable federal, state or local Solid Waste Regulations.

B. Universal Waste Pesticides. A large quantity handler of universal waste must manage universal waste pesticides in a way that prevents releases of any universal waste or component of a universal waste to the environment. The universal waste pesticides must be contained in one or more of the following:

1. a container that remains closed, structurally sound, compatible with the pesticide, and that lacks evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions;

2. a container that does not meet the requirements of Paragraph B.1 of this Section, provided that the unacceptable container is overpacked in a container that does meet the requirements of Paragraph B.1 of this Section;

3. a tank that meets the requirements of LAC 33:V.Chapter 19, except for LAC 33:V.1915.C; or

4. a transport vehicle or vessel that is closed, structurally sound, compatible with the pesticide, and that lacks evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions.

C. Universal Waste Mercury-Containing Equipment. A large quantity handler of universal waste shall manage universal waste mercury-containing equipment in a way that prevents releases of any universal waste or component of a universal waste to the environment, as follows.

1. A large quantity handler of universal waste shall place in a container any universal waste mercury-containing equipment with non-contained elemental mercury or that shows evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions. The container shall be closed, structurally sound, and compatible with the contents of the device; shall lack evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions; and shall be reasonably designed to prevent the escape of mercury into the environment by volatilization or any other means.

2. A large quantity handler of universal waste may remove mercury-containing ampules from universal waste mercury-containing equipment provided the handler:

a. removes and manages the ampules in a manner designed to prevent breakage of the ampules;

b. removes ampules only over or in a containment device (e.g., tray or pan sufficient to contain any mercury released from an ampule in case of breakage);

c. ensures that a mercury clean-up system is readily available to immediately transfer any mercury resulting from spills or leaks from broken ampules, from the containment device to a container that meets the requirements of LAC 33:V.1013.C.2.aor 1015.B.l.b;

d. immediately transfers any mercury resulting from spills or leaks from broken ampules from the containment device to a container that meets the requirements of LAC 33:V.1013.C.2.aor 1015.B.l.b;

e. ensures that the area in which ampules are removed is well ventilated and monitored to ensure compliance with applicable OSHA exposure levels for mercury;

f. ensures that employees removing ampules are thoroughly familiar with proper waste mercury handling and emergency procedures, including transfer of mercury from containment devices to appropriate containers;

g. stores removed ampules in closed, nonleaking containers that are in good condition;

h. packs removed ampules in the container with packing materials adequate to prevent breakage during storage, handling, and transportation.

3. A large quantity handler of universal waste who removes mercury-containing ampules from mercury-containing equipment or seals mercury from mercury-containing equipment in its original housing shall determine whether the mercury or clean-up residues resulting from spills or leaks and/or other solid waste generated as a result of the removal of mercury-containing ampules or housings (e.g., the remaining mercury-containing device) exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste identified in LAC 33:V.4903.

a. If the mercury, residues, and/or other solid waste exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste, it shall be managed in compliance with all applicable requirements of these regulations. The handler is considered the generator of the mercury, residues, and/or other waste and is subject to LAC 33:V.Chapters 10 and 11.

b. If the mercury, residues, and/or other solid waste does not exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste, the handler may manage the waste in any way that is in compliance with applicable federal, state, or local Solid Waste Regulations.

4. A large quantity handler of universal waste mercury-containing equipment that does not contain an ampule may remove the open original housing holding the mercury from universal waste mercury-containing equipment provided the handler:

a. immediately seals the original housing holding the mercury with an air-tight seal to prevent the release of any mercury to the environment; and

b. follows all requirements for removing ampules and managing removed ampules under Paragraph C.2 of this Section.

D. Lamps. A large quantity handler of universal waste must manage lamps in a way that prevents releases of any universal waste or component of a universal waste to the environment, as follows:

1. a large quantity handler of universal waste must contain any lamp in containers or packages that are structurally sound, adequate to prevent breakage, and compatible with the contents of the lamps. Such containers and packages must remain closed and must lack evidence of leakage, spillage or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions; and

2. a large quantity handler of universal waste must immediately clean up and place in a container any lamp that is broken and must place in a container any lamp that shows evidence of breakage, leakage, or damage that could cause the release of mercury or other hazardous constituents to the environment. Containers must be closed, structurally sound, compatible with the contents of the lamps and must lack evidence of leakage, spillage or damage that could cause leakage or releases of mercury or other hazardous constituents to the environment under reasonably foreseeable conditions.

E. Universal Waste Electronics. A large quantity handler of universal waste shall manage universal waste electronics in a way that prevents the release of any universal waste, component of a universal waste, or constituent of a universal waste to the environment, as follows:

1. store all universal waste electronics inside a building with a roof and four walls or in the cargo-carrying portion of a truck, such as in a trailer, in a manner that prevents universal waste electronics from being exposed to the environment and ensures that all universal waste electronics are handled, stored, and transported in a manner that maintains the reuse or recyclability of any such device or component thereof;

2. immediately clean up and place in a container any broken cathode ray tube from a universal waste electronic device. Any such container shall be closed, structurally sound, and compatible with the cathode ray tube and shall be capable of preventing leakage, spillage, or releases of broken cathode ray tubes, glass particles, or other hazardous constituents from such broken tubes, to the environment;

3. shall not shred, crush, heat, or otherwise treat electronics or any component thereof, and shall not break the cathode ray tube in any electronic device. Provided no treatment is occurring, a large quantity handler of universal waste electronics may disassemble electronics for the sole purpose of marketing, reselling, reusing, or recycling components thereof.

F. Universal Waste Antifreeze. A large quantity handler of universal waste shall manage universal waste antifreeze in a way that prevents releases of any universal waste or component of a universal waste to the environment. The universal waste antifreeze shall be contained in one or more of the following:

1. a container that remains closed, structurally sound, and compatible with the antifreeze and that lacks evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions;

2. a container that does not meet the requirements of Paragraph F.1 of this Section, provided that the unacceptable container is overpacked in a container that does meet the requirements of Paragraph F.1 of this Section;

3. a tank that meets the requirements of LAC 33:V.Chapter 19, except for LAC 33:V.1915.C; or

4. a transport vehicle or vessel that is closed, structurally sound, and compatible with the antifreeze and that lacks evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § V-3843

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Solid and Hazardous Waste, Hazardous Waste Division, LR 23:574 (May 1997), amended by the Office of Waste Services, Hazardous Waste Division, LR 24:1761 (September 1998), amended by the Office of Environmental Assessment, Environmental Planning Division, LR 27:303 (March 2001), amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs Division, LR 31:3120 (December 2005), Amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs and Criminal Investigations Division, LR 46941 (7/1/2020).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2180 et seq.