Section 733

Section 733.133 Waste Management

a) Universal Waste Batteries. A large quantity handler of universal waste must manage universal waste batteries in a manner 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.

3) A large quantity handler of universal waste that removes electrolyte from batteries or that generates other solid waste (e.g., battery pack materials, discarded consumer products) as a result of the activities listed in subsection (a)(2) must determine whether the electrolyte or other solid waste exhibits a characteristic of hazardous waste identified in Subpart C of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 721.

A) If the electrolyte or other solid waste exhibits a characteristic of hazardous waste, it must be managed in compliance with all applicable requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 702 through 705 and 720 through 728. The handler is considered the generator of the hazardous electrolyte or other waste and is subject to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 722.

B) If the electrolyte or other solid waste is not hazardous, the handler may manage the waste in any way that is in compliance with applicable federal, State, or local solid (non-hazardous) waste regulations.

BOARD NOTE: See generally the Act and 35 Ill. Adm. Code 807 through 817 to determine whether additional facility siting, special waste, or non-hazardous waste regulations apply to the waste. Consult the ordinances of relevant units of local government to determine whether local requirements apply.

b) Universal Waste Pesticides. A large quantity handler of universal waste must manage universal waste pesticides in a manner 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 subsection (b)(1), provided that the unacceptable container is overpacked in a container that does meet the requirements of subsection (b)(1);

3) A tank that meets the requirements of Subpart J of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 725, except for 35 Ill. Adm. Code 725.297(c), 725.300, and 725.301; 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 must manage universal waste mercury-containing equipment in a manner 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 place in a container any universal 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 must be closed; must be structurally sound; must be compatible with the contents of the device;must lack evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions; and must 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 follows each of the following procedures:

A) It removes the ampules in a manner designed to prevent breakage of the ampules;

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

C) It 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 is subject to all applicable requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 702, 703, 705, and 720 through 728;

D) It immediately transfers any mercury resulting from spills or leaks from broken ampules from the containment device to a container that meets the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 702, 703, 705, and 720 through 728;

E) It 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) It 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) It stores removed ampules in closed, non-leaking containers that are in good condition; and

H) It 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 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 does as follows:

A) It 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) It follows all requirements for removing ampules and managing removed ampules under subsection (c)(2).

4) Required Hazardous Waste Determination and Further Waste Management

A) A large quantity handler of universal waste that removes mercury-containing ampules from mercury-containing equipment or seals mercury from mercury-containing equipment in its original housing must determine whether the following exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste identified in Subpart C of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 721:

i) Mercury or clean-up residues resulting from spills or leaks; or

ii) Other solid waste generated as a result of the removal of mercury-containing ampules (e.g., the remaining mercury-containing equipment).

B) If the mercury, residues, or other solid waste exhibits a characteristic of hazardous waste, it must be managed in compliance with all applicable requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 702 through 705 and 720 through 728. The handler is considered the generator of the mercury, residues, or other waste and must manage it in compliance with 35 Ill. Adm. Code 722.

C) If the mercury, residues, or other solid waste is not hazardous, the handler may manage the waste in any way that is in compliance with applicable federal, State, or local solid (non-hazardous) waste regulations.

d) Lamps. A large quantity handler of universal waste must manage lamps in a manner 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 lamps must contain all lamps 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;

2) A large quantity handler of universal waste lamps must immediately clean up and place in a container any lamp that is broken, and the large quantity handler 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. Any container used 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; and

3) Large quantity handlers of universal waste lamps may treat those lamps for volume reduction at the site where they were generated under the following conditions:

A) The lamps must be crushed in a closed system designed and operated in such a manner that any emission of mercury from the crushing system must not exceed 0.1 mg/m³ when measured on the basis of time weighted average over an 8-hour period;

B) The handler must provide notification of crushing activity to the Agency quarterly, in a form as provided by the Agency. Such notification must include the following information:

i) Name and address of the handler;

ii) Estimated monthly amount of lamps crushed; and

iii) The technology employed for crushing, including any certification or testing data provided by the manufacturer of the crushing unit verifying that the crushing device achieves the emission controls required in subsection (d)(5)(A);

C) The handler immediately transfers any material recovered from a spill or leak to a container that meets the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 722.115, and has available equipment necessary to comply with this requirement;

D) The handler ensures that the area in which the lamps are crushed is well-ventilated and monitored to ensure compliance with applicable OSHA exposure levels for mercury;

E) The handler ensures that employees crushing lamps are thoroughly familiar with proper waste mercury handling and emergency procedures, including transfer of mercury from containment devices to appropriate containers; and

F) The crushed lamps are stored in closed, non-leaking containers that are in good condition (e.g., no severe rusting, apparent structural defects or deterioration), suitable to prevent releases during storage, handling and transportation.

e) Aerosol Cans. A large quantity handler of universal waste must manage universal waste aerosol cans in a way that prevents releases of any universal waste or component of a universal waste to the environment, as follows:

1) The large quantity handler must accumulate universal waste aerosol cans in a container that is structurally sound; is compatible with the contents of the aerosol cans; lacks evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions; and is protected from sources of heat.

2) The large quantity handler must package universal waste aerosol cans that show evidence of leakage in a separate closed container, or overpack the cans with absorbents, or immediately puncture and drain the cans in accordance with the requirements of subsection (e)(4).

3) A large quantity handler of universal waste may conduct the following activities, as long as each individual aerosol can is not breached and remains intact:

A) The large quantity handler may sort aerosol cans by type;

B) The large quantity handler may mix intact cans in one container; and

C) The large quantity handler may remove actuators to reduce the risk of accidental release; and

4) A large quantity handler of universal waste that punctures and drains its aerosol cans must recycle the empty punctured aerosol cans and meet the following requirements while puncturing and draining universal waste aerosol cans:

A) The large quantity handler must conduct puncturing and draining activities using a device specifically designed to safely puncture aerosol cans and effectively contain the residual contents and any emissions of the contents.

B) The large quantity handler must establish and follow a written procedure detailing how to safely puncture and drain the universal waste aerosol can (including proper assembly, operation and maintenance of the unit, segregation of incompatible wastes, and proper waste management practices to prevent fires or releases); maintain a copy of the manufacturer's specification and instruction on site; and ensure employees operating the device are trained in the proper procedures.

C) The large quantity handler must ensure that puncturing of the can is done in a manner designed to prevent fires and to prevent the release of any component of universal waste to the environment. This includes, but is not limited to, locating the equipment on a solid, flat surface in a well-ventilated area.

D) The large quantity handler must immediately transfer the contents from the waste aerosol can or puncturing device, if applicable, to a container or tank that meets the applicable requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 722.114, 722.115, 722.116, or 722.117.

E) The large quantity handler must conduct a hazardous waste determination on the contents of the emptied can, as required by 35 Ill. Adm. Code 722.111. Any hazardous waste generated as a result of puncturing and draining the aerosol can is subject to all applicable requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 703, 705 and 720 through 728. The handler is the generator of the hazardous waste and is subject to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 722.

F) If the large quantity handler determines that the contents are nonhazardous, the handler may manage the waste in any way that is in compliance with applicable federal, State, and local solid waste regulations.

G) The large quantity handler must have a written procedure in place in the event of a spill or release and a spill clean-up kit must be provided. The large quantity handler must promptly clean up all spills or leaks of the contents of the aerosol cans.

(Source: Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 15520, effective September 3, 2020)