State Universal Waste Programs in the United States
On this page:
- Why Are Universal Waste Regulations Different in Some States?
- Links to State Universal Waste Regulations
- Table Identifying Which States Have Federal and State Universal Wastes
Why Are Universal Waste Regulations Different in Some States?
State Adoption
Like in most federal environmental legislation, EPA encourages states to develop and run their own hazardous waste programs as an alternative to direct EPA management. State adoption of the universal waste rules is optional because the rules are less stringent than the previous requirements under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). States can create different standards (except for batteries due to the Battery Act), but they have to be equivalent to the federal regulations (i.e., they must provide equivalent protection, cannot regulate fewer handlers, etc.).
States may adopt an entire rule or certain provisions of a rule, which are:
- General provisions,
- Provisions for batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment, and lamps (states do not have to include all of them), and
- Provisions allowing the addition of new universal wastes in state.
The universal waste rules went into effect immediately in states and territories that are not RCRA-authorized including Iowa, Alaska, and Puerto Rcdico. State adoption of the 1995 universal wastes rule as well as subsequent federal universal wastes (e.g., lamps, mercury-containing equipment) are strongly encouraged.
State Additions
Additionally, U.S. states authorized for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) petition process may add additional universal wastes to the state's universal waste program. In order for a state to add waste to the universal waste program:
- the waste must be generated by a wide variety of generators,
- the waste cannot be exclusive to a specific industry and
- the waste must be hazardous.
Also, the state must have a collection system in place and ensure that the universal waste program will increase the likelihood that the waste will be recycled. Keep in mind that state universal waste is only regulated as universal waste in that state and other states that have the same waste added to their universal waste programs.
Table With State Adoption and Authorization Information with Links to State Universal Waste Regulations
The map below shows the states that have adopted the 1995 universal waste final rule (shown in green), which states have been authorized for the universal waste rule (shown in purple) and in which state EPA administers the universal waste program (shown in orange). Find out about your state's universal waste program by clicking on the map below:
Below is a table with columns showing the name of each U.S. state, a link to each state's universal waste regulations (where possible), if the state adopted the 1995 universal waste final rule, and if the state is authorized for that rule.
The state name links to our Web page containing all state environmental agency websites so you can search within the state website for additional universal waste information.Many of the following links exit the site Exit
State Environmental Program | State Universal Waste Regulations | If Adopted the Rule | If Authorized for the Rule |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
Alaska (uses Federal regulations) | Administered by EPA Region 10 | ||
Arizona | Regulations R18-8-273 |
Yes | Yes |
Arkansas | Regulations Reg 23, Section 273 |
Yes | Yes |
California | Regulations Chapter 23 |
Yes | No |
Colorado | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
Connecticut | Regulations Section 22a-449(c)-113 (PDF) Incorporated by reference and has modifications |
Yes | Yes |
State Environmental Program | State Universal Waste Regulations | If Adopted the Rule | If Authorized for the Rule |
Delaware | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
District of Columbia | Regulations 20 DCMR Section 4273 |
Yes | Yes |
Florida | 62-730.185 Regulations (PDF) |
Yes | Yes |
Georgia | 391-3-11.18 Regulations (PDF) uses Federal Rule |
Yes | Yes |
Hawaii | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
Idaho | 58.01.05-016 uses Federal Rule |
Yes | Yes |
Illinois | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | No |
State Environmental Program | State's Universal Waste Regulations |
If Adopted the Rule | If Authorized for the Rule |
Indiana | Regulations [See also 329 IAC 3.1-16-1in Article 3.1 (PDF)] |
Yes | Yes |
Iowa (uses Federal regulations) | Administered by EPA Region 7 | ||
Kansas | 28-31-15 Regulations (PDF) |
Yes | No |
Kentucky | Regulations Guidance (PDF) |
Yes | No |
Louisiana | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
Maine | Regulations (PDF) Chapter 850, Section 3A |
Yes | Yes |
Maryland | Regulations COMAR 26.13.10.06 - 26.13.10.25 |
Yes | Yes |
State Environmental Program | State's Universal Waste Regulations |
If Adopted the Rule | If Authorized for the Rule |
Massachusetts | Regulations (PDF) 30.1000 |
Yes | Yes |
Michigan | R 299.9228 Regulations (PDF) |
Yes | Yes |
Minnesota | Regulations Minn.R.7045.1400 |
Yes | Yes |
Mississippi |
Regulations |
Yes | Yes |
Missouri | Regulations | Yes | No |
Montana | Regulations | Yes | Yes |
Nebraska | Ch. 25, Title 128 Nebraska Hazardous Waste pages |
Yes | Yes |
State Environmental Program | State's Universal Waste Regulations |
If Adopted the Rule | If Authorized for the Rule |
Nevada | no link | Yes | Yes |
New Hampshire | Regulations | Yes | Yes |
New Jersey | Regulations (PDF) Guidance |
Yes | No |
New Mexico | Regulations (PDF) 20.4.1.1000 Using Federal Rule |
Yes | Yes |
New York | Regulations | Yes | Yes |
North Carolina | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
North Dakota | Regulations (PDF) 33-24-05-701 similar to Federal Rule |
Yes | Yes |
State Environmental Program | State's Universal Waste Regulations |
If Adopted the Rule | If Authorized for the Rule |
Ohio | 3745-273-01 Regulations |
Yes | Yes |
Oklahoma | 252:205-3-2 Regulations (PDF) (19 pp, 87K) Using Federal Rule |
Yes | Yes |
Oregon | Regulations | Yes | Yes |
Pennsylvania | Regulations | Yes | Yes |
Rhode Island | Fact Sheet (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
South Carolina | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
South Dakota | Regulations Chapter 74:28:33 uses Federal Rule |
Yes | Yes |
State Environmental Program | State's Universal Waste Regulations |
If Adopted the Rule | If Authorized for the Rule |
Tennessee | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
Texas | Regulations 30 TAC 335 |
Yes | Yes |
Utah | Regulations | Yes | Yes |
Vermont | Regulations (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
Virginia |
Regulations |
Yes | Yes |
Washington | Regulations 173-303-573 |
Yes | Yes |
West Virginia | uses Federal Rule | Yes | Yes |
Wisconsin | Regulations Chapter NR 673 |
Yes | Yes |
Wyoming | Uses Federal Rule | Yes | Yes |
Notes about this table:
- Adoptions/authorization status listed was last updated on June 7, 2006.
- The linked regulations may not be the most current.
- States do not have to include all of the federal universal wastes when the states adopt the rule. For example, Maine and Washington did not include pesticides and North Dakota did not include thermostats. The table below contains more detail about which states have adopted which universal wastes.
Universal Wastes in Each State and State Additions
The universal waste regulations can vary between states and states can add different types of wastes. Below is a table with columns showing the name of each U.S. state, the four types of federal universal wastes, additional universal wastes the state has added to its program, and the regulatory citation for the state's universal waste program. An "X" marked in the columns Batteries, Pesticides, Mercury-Containing Equipment or Lamps indicates that the state universal waste program includes that federal universal waste.
State | Batteries | Pesticides | Mercury- Containing Equipment | Lamps | State Additions | Regulatory Citation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | X | X | X | X | DIVISION 14 335-14-11 | |
Alaska (uses Federal regulations) | X | X | X | X | ||
Arizona | X | X | X | X | R18-8-273 | |
Arkansas | X | X | X | X | consumer electronic items; cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and other electronic wastes (excludes broken and crushed lamps/debris) | Regulation 23 |
California | X | X | thermostats; waste cathode ray tube materials | R-97-08 | ||
Colorado | X | aerosol cans; electronic devices and electronic components | ||||
Connecticut | X | X | X | thermostats; lamps; used electronics | 22a-449(c)-100 through 119 | |
State | Batteries | Pesticides | Mercury Containing Equipment | Lamps | State Additions | Regulatory Citation |
Delaware | X | X | X | X | ||
District of Columbia | X | X | X | X | ||
Florida | X | X | X | X | universal pharmaceutical waste | 62-730.185 |
Georgia | X | X | X | X | 391-3-11-.18 | |
Hawaii | X | X | thermostats | 11-273 | ||
Idaho | X | X | X | X | 58.01.05.016 | |
Illinois | X | X | X | X | Part 733 | |
State | Batteries | Pesticides | Mercury Containing Equipment | Lamps | State Additions | Regulatory Citation |
Indiana | X | X | X | discarded mercury-containing thermostats; lamps-prohibition against intentionally breaking or crushing | ||
Iowa (uses Federal regulations) | X | X | X | X | ||
Kansas | X | X | X | X | ||
Kentucky | X | X | X | X | Chapter 43.10 | |
Louisiana | X | X | X | X | electronics; antifreeze | Title 33 Part V Chaper 38 |
Maine | X | X | cathode ray tubes; mercury thermostats; motor vehicle mercury switches; totally enclosed, non leaking polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) ballast | |||
Maryland | X | X | X | X | fluorescent light ballasts that contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | |
State | Batteries | Pesticides | Mercury Containing Equipment | Lamps | State Additions | Regulatory Citation |
Massachusetts | X | X | X | mercury-containing devices | 310 CMR 30.000 | |
Michigan | X | X | X | X | antifreeze; consumer electronics; electric lamps; devices containing elemental mercury (including thermostats, switches, thermometers, manometers, barometers, anti-locking braking systems (ABS), gas flow regulators, hydrometers, blood pressure cuffs and various medical devices, etc); pharmaceuticals, including drugs for both human and veterinary use | |
Minnesota | X | X | X | X | ||
Mississippi | X | X | X | X | HW-1 | |
Missouri | X | Batteries | 10 CSR 25-16.273 | |||
Montana | X | X | X | X | requirements for treatment of electric lamps | ARM 17.53 SubChapter 13 |
Nebraska | X | X | X | X | electronic items | Chapter 25 of Title 128 |
State | Batteries | Pesticides | Mercury Containing Equipment | Lamps | State Additions | Regulatory Citation |
Nevada | ||||||
New Hampshire | X | X | X | X | cathode ray tubes; waste antifreeze | Env-Hw 1100 |
New Jersey | X | X | X | X | oil-based finishes; consumer electronics | N.J.A.C. 7:26 Subchapter 1 |
New Mexico | 20.4.1.1001 | |||||
New York | X | X | X | thermostats | §374-3.1 | |
North Carolina | X | X | X | X | 13A .0119 | |
North Dakota | ||||||
State | Batteries | Pesticides | Mercury Containing Equipment | Lamps | State Additions | Regulatory Citation |
Ohio | X | X | X | X | OAC 3745 Chapter 273 | |
Oklahoma | X | X | X | X | 252:205 | |
Oregon | X | X | X | X | 340-113-0000 | |
Pennsylvania | X | X | X | X | oil-based finishes | CHAPTER 266b |
Rhode Island | X | X | X | X | thermostats; cathode ray tubes | DEM OWM-HW01-07 |
South Carolina | ||||||
South Dakota | 74:28:33:01 | |||||
State | Batteries | Pesticides | Mercury Containing Equipment | Lamps | State Additions | Regulatory Citation |
Tennessee | X | X | X | X | 1200-01-11-.12 | |
Texas | X | X | X | X | mercury-containing equipment, including thermostats; paint and paint-related waste | Title 30 Part1 Chapter 335 Sub Chapter H, 5§335.261 |
Utah | X | X | X | thermostats | R315-16 | |
Vermont | X | X | X | X | thermostats; PCB-containing fluorescent light ballasts; cathode ray tubes | SUBCHAPTER 9 |
Virginia | X | X | X | X | Universal waste lamps may be crushed or intentionally broken on the site of generation to reduce their volume; however, breaking, crushing, handling, and storage must occur in a safe and controlled manner that minimizes the release of mercury to the workplace and the environment and must comply with 29 CFR 1910.1000. | 9VAC20-60-273. |
Washington | X | X | X | WAC 173-303-573 | ||
West Virginia | X | X | X | X | §33-20-13 | |
Wisconsin | X | X | X | thermostats | NR 673 | |
Wyoming | X | X | X | X | Ch. 14 |