The intention of the universal waste program is to ease the regulatory burden on the facilities that manage universal wastes,
particularly by allowing more time for accumulation of these wastes in order to facilitate appropriate recycling or disposal. Florida universal
wastes include most rechargeable batteries; pesticides that are recalled or collected under a pesticide waste collection program; mercury-containing
thermostats and devices such as manometers and switches; mercury-containing lamps such as fluorescent lamps that are recycled; and hazardous waste
pharmaceuticals.
A handler of universal wastes can be a person who receives universal waste from other handlers, accumulates the waste, and then
sends it on to other handlers, recyclers, or treatment or disposal facilities without performing the actual treatment, recycling, or disposal.
This may include a person who collects batteries, pesticides, or mercury-containing equipment from small businesses and sends the waste to a
recycling facility. The universal waste handler requirements depend on how much universal waste a handler accumulates at any one time. No universal
waste handlers may accumulate universal waste for longer than one year from when it is generated or received.
There are four types of regulated participants in the universal waste system: small quantity handlers of universal waste (SQH),
large quantity handlers of universal waste (LQH), universal waste transporters, and universal waste destination facilities.
Small quantity handlers of universal waste accumulate less than 5,000 kilograms (kg) (approximately 11,000 pounds)
of all universal waste categories combined at their locations at any time, and less than 1 kg of acutely hazardous pharmaceutical waste (P-listed).
SQH are required to manage universal waste in a way that prevents releases to the environment. SQH must also immediately respond to releases of
universal waste. SQH must distribute basic waste handling and emergency information to their employees to ensure that their staff is aware of proper
handling and emergency procedures.
Large quantity handlers of universal waste accumulate a total of 5,000 kg or more of universal waste at any time or
more than 1k of acutely hazardous pharmaceutical waste (P-listed). The designation as a LQH is retained for the remainder of the calendar year in
which the 5,000-kg threshold was exceeded, and may be reevaluated in the following calendar year. LQH must comply with the same requirements as SQH,
as well as maintain all documents detailing shipments to and from the facility, must obtain an EPA ID number, and must comply with stricter employee
training requirements.
Universal waste transporters are persons who transport universal waste from SQH or LQH to other handlers, destination
facilities, or foreign destinations. These wastes do not need to be accompanied by a RCRA hazardous waste manifest during transport, but records must
be kept documenting shipments. Transporters must comply with applicable DOT requirements. Storage of hazardous waste or universal waste at a transfer
facility is limited to 10 days or less.
Universal waste destination facilities are facilities that treat, dispose of, or recycle a particular category of
universal waste. These facilities are subject to the same requirements as fully regulated hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities.
Full regulation includes permit requirements.
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Highlights
2012 State of Florida