#1 Essay on used oil four pages four references APA Format

BEM 3701, Hazardous Waste Management 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VI Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

5. Evaluate the efficacy of hazardous waste related mandates and programs.

6. Describe hazardous waste characteristics, pathways in the environment, and toxicological impacts.

7. Evaluate contemporary methods of hazardous waste mitigation and remediation including waste minimization, pollution prevention, reuse, and recycling.

Reading Assignment Chapter 18: Universal Wastes Chapter 19: Management of Used Oil

Unit Lesson Universal waste is a unique category of hazardous wastes and is comprised of the following:

 Batteries

 Pesticides

 Thermostats (mercury containing equipment)

 Certain types of light bulbs (lamps). This waste was historically created in large quantities by businesses, households, and institutions, and the EPA saw a need to regulate and control its disposal. To describe the requirements for both generators and commercial consolidators of universal waste, the EPA uses the term handler. So, when dealing with universal waste (which is a type of hazardous waste), a generator of universal waste is also a handler. A consolidator of the waste is a handler, but not a generator. It appears that the EPA lumped both types of facilities into the same classification to simplify the regulatory control. These items are not considered highly hazardous in the quantities and the forms they exist in within the universal waste category. Also, the EPA classified the handlers as large quantity handlers or small quantity handlers according to the waste quantities handled. Large quantity handlers (LQH) are classified as generating more than 5000 kg/yr, and small quantity handlers (SQH), generate less than 5000 kg/yr. Universal Waste Batteries Automotive batteries contain lead and sulfuric acid, and are therefore considered hazardous. A LQH of universal waste is required to contain universal waste batteries that show signs of leakage. If the battery is intact, the LQH must:

 sort the batteries by type,

 mix battery types in one container,

 discharge batteries so as to remove the electric charge,

 regenerate used batteries,

 disassemble batteries into individual cells,

UNIT VI STUDY GUIDE

Universal Waste and Management of Used Oil

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 remove batteries from consumer products, and

 remove electrolyte from batteries (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012) The quantity accumulation limits, storage times, training requirements, and recordkeeping requirements are less stringent for the universal waste handler than for the SQG and LQG. For example, there is no manifest requirement for universal wastes, while both small quality generators (SQG) and large quantity generators (LQG) of hazardous waste are required to prepare them. There are also specific requirements for different types of universal wastes as well as recordkeeping, reporting, transportation, and state authorized regulations considerations (Pichtel, 2014). Universal Waste Pesticides LQHs are required to contain waste pesticides to prevent the release of the waste to the environment. This can be done by the use of containers or tanks. The containers and tanks must be labeled with “Universal Waste – Pesticide” or “Waste-Pesticide.” Universal Waste Thermostats Thermostats often contain mercury, which is a neurotoxin, in the thermostat switch. An LQH must properly containerize any leaking or damaged thermostats. The LQH is permitted to remove the mercury from the thermostats if they are opened over a containment device, a clean-up system is available, and OSHA regulations are followed to protect workers from mercury exposure (Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). Universal Waste Lamps Fluorescent lamps contain mercury at different levels, depending on the type and year of manufacture of the lamp. LQHs must properly containerize waste lamps. These lamps can be recycled, and the mercury in them can be reused. However, the glass that is recovered is often contaminated with mercury that can be released during the conversion of the glass to new products (Pichtel, 2014) Tracking requirements for Universal Wastes Universal wastes must be tracked by the LQH. Records of waste shipments containing the name and address of the original handler, the type of waste received, and the date of receipt must be kept. Additionally, the LQH must keep a record of the universal waste that was sent to other facilities. These records must be kept on hand for three years from the receipt of the waste or the shipment of the waste if the waste was sent to another facility (Pichtel, 2014). Transporters of universal waste are not permitted to dispose of universal waste, nor are they permitted to dilute or treat universal waste unless they are responding to a release. A universal waste transporter will deliver the waste to a destination facility which treats, disposes, or recycles the waste (Pichtel, 2014). Used Oil Under RCRA (in 40 CFR 279), used oil is regulated from the point of generation and initial storage to its processing and burning or refining, depending on the fate of the oil being generated. This includes specific standards for those that generate it, as well as those who receive the waste from the generator. Because the use of oil in lubrication of engines and other commercial applications involves its contamination as well as decomposition, used oil presents a unique hazard. There are many aromatic (including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbon decomposition products as well as metal contaminants present in used oil. PAHs are carcinogenic (Pichtel, 2014). With regard to generators of used oil, the EPA classifies them as generators, collection centers, marketers (which includes re-refiners and recyclers), and transporters, depending on their specific function. Used oil can be effectively recycled in several ways: these include re-refining, slipstreaming, processing, and direct burning. Any facility that is processing or re-refining used oil must have an EPA identification number and have practices in place to minimize the risk of fire or explosion. The facility must also maintain emergency communication and spill control equipment at the site. In some cases, the used oil might be too costly to

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recycle. If this is the case, the generator is required to test the used oil to determine if it is a hazardous waste. If the used oil contains more than 1000 mg/kg of halogens or exhibits one of the hazardous waste characteristics (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity), it must be disposed of as a hazardous waste, following RCRA Subtitle C regulations. If it falls below 100 mg/kg of halogens and does not display a hazardous waste characteristic, then it can be disposed of as a solid waste under RCRA Subtitle D.

References Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). Batteries. Retrieved from

http://www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/batteries.htm#def Environmental Protection Agency. (2014). Mercury-containing equipment. Retrieved from

http://www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/mce.htm

Pichtel, J. (2014). Waste management practices: Municipal, hazardous, and industrial (2nd ed.). Boca Raton,

FL: CRC Press.