Posts Tagged ‘EPA’

By streamlining the management of cathode ray tubes (CRTs), the Environmental Protection Agency is making it easier to collect and recycle CRTs. Safely recycling CRTs saves energy and conserves resources, allows the recovered lead to be reused in other ways, and reduces the amount of lead in landfills.

Background

CRTs are the video display components of televisions and computer monitors. The glass in CRTs typically contains enough lead to require managing it as hazardous waste under certain circumstances. Under the previous regulations, businesses and other organizations that recycle or dispose of CRTs were sometimes unclear about the proper way to recycle or dispose of this equipment. That uncertainty sometimes prevented CRTs from being recycled and reused. EPA is changing CRT waste management requirements to promote additional safe recycling and reuse of CRTs. About 57 million computers and televisions are sold in the United States annually.

Action

EPA is providing conditional exclusions from the federal hazardous waste management standards for CRTs and CRT glass destined for recycling. These safe, yet simplified standards aim to increase the collection and recycling of CRTs, and to reduce the amount of lead in landfills by allowing the lead to be reused to make new CRT glass or sent to lead smelters.
Under these regulations, used, unbroken CRTs are not regulated as hazardous waste unless they are stored for more than a year. EPA is setting simpler, more manageable standards for unbroken CRTs because the risk of lead releases from them is very low. Since the risk is so low, the storage limitation on unbroken CRTs applies only to collectors or recyclers.

Used, broken CRTs are not regulated as hazardous waste as long as the following conditions
are met:

• CRT containers are clearly labeled regarding contents;
• CRTs are safely transported in containers designed to minimize releases;
• CRTs are stored in a building or container designed to minimize releases; and
• CRTs are stored on site less than one year before recycling them.

To remain unregulated, CRTs undergoing glass processing must follow the same requirements, except they must be processed inside a building, at temperatures not high enough to volatilize lead from the glass. CRT glass that has been processed and sent to a CRT glass manufacturer or a lead smelter also is unregulated unless it is stored for more than one year (see above) or used in a manner constituting disposal (applied to the land). CRT glass going to any other kind of recycler may be eligible for exemption under existing regulations.

Exporters shipping broken or unbroken CRTs to another country for recycling must notify EPA and receive written consent from the receiving country through EPA before shipments can be made. This requirement is similar to those applicable to exporters of hazardous waste, which are found at 40 CFR Part 262. Exporters shipping used, unbroken CRTs for reuse as computers to another country must submit a one-time notification to EPA.

For More Information

More information about the Hazardous Waste CRT Rule.

To find out more detailed information or to ask a question, please go to http://waste.custhelp.com, and click on Find an Answer or Ask a Question.

Link: http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/recycling/electron/crt-fs06.htm

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Although they do not address the same materials, classifying mercury-containing equipment as universal waste and excluding cathode ray tubes from the definition of solid waste were proposed in the same action in 2003. In order to expedite the regulatory process, the actions were separated and each now stands alone.

Cathode Ray Tubes Final Rule

• Frequent Questions
• Export Requirements in the CRT Final Rule
• Companies Approved to Export CRTs for Recycling
• Companies Exporting Cathode Ray Tubes for Reuse

Discarded Mercury-Containing Equipment Final Rule

Cathode Ray Tubes Final Rule

A cathode ray tube (CRT) is the glass video display component of an electronic device (usually a computer or television monitor).  This final rule streamlines management requirements for recycling of used CRTs and glass removed from CRTs under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The amendments exclude these materials from the RCRA definition of solid waste if certain conditions are met.  The rule is intended to encourage recycling and reuse of used CRTs and CRT glass.  EPA proposed this rule on June 12, 2002 (67 FR 40508). 

Fact Sheet: Easier Recycling of Cathode Ray Tubes || Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 18K)

Federal Register Notice || Federal Register Notice (PDF) (108 pp, 230K) – July 28, 2006

The support materials for this rule and the public comments EPA received on the proposal are available for public review online, as explained below. Please note that final rule materials will not be available from Regulations.gov until the rule is published in the Federal Register

Supporting materials for this rule are available below.

To use Regulations.gov:

1. Select Docket Search.
2. Select “Environmental Protection Agency” from the Agency drop-down menu.
3. In the Docket ID box, type in the docket number – EPA-HQ-RCRA-2004-0012 and press the “Submit” button to receive search results. Be patient; loading the documents takes time.

Frequent Questions

Export Requirements in the CRT Final Rule

Used CRTs (Broken and Intact) Exported for Recycling

Used CRTs exported for recycling must comply with requirements that are specified in detail in 40 CFR 261.39(a)(5). Below is a summary of these requirements. They are:

• Notify EPA (OECA) of an intended shipment 60 days before the shipment. Notification may cover exports extending over a 12-month or shorter period.

Notification must include contact info about the exporter and recycler, and an alternate recycler.  It must also include a description of the recycling, frequency and rate of export, means of transport, total quantity of CRTs, and info about transit countries.

• OECA will notify the receiving country and transit countries.  When the receiving country consents in writing to the receipt of the CRTs, OECA will forward the consent to the exporter.  The exporter may not ship the CRTs until he receives the consent.
• If the receiving country does not consent or withdraws a prior consent, EPA will notify the exporter in writing. Exporters must keep copies of notifications and consents for three years following receipt of the consent.
• Consent is not required from transit countries, but EPA will notify the exporter of any responses from these countries.

CRT Glass Exported for Recycling

• Processed glass (i.e., CRT glass that has been sorted) is not subject to export requirements.  Unsorted glass would be considered a “broken CRT” and would be subject to export requirements.  

Used Intact CRTs Exported for Reuse

• Persons who export used, intact CRTs for reuse must submit a one-time notification to the appropriate EPA Region with contact info and a statement that they are exporting the CRTs for reuse (see 40 CFR 261.41). They must keep copies of normal business records demonstrating that each shipment will be reused.  Records must be retained for three years.

Unused Intact CRTs Exported for Reuse or Recycling

• No regulatory requirements – these are considered commercial products or commercial chemical products being reclaimed.

Link: http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/recycling/electron/index.htm#crts

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