Universal Waste Universal Waste

Our program on Universal Waste discusses the types of hazardous materials that are considered to be "universal waste", and how to handle and dispose of them according to the EPA Universal Waste Regulation. Disposing of hazardous waste can be a long and complicated process, but some hazardous waste materials are less harmful to people and the environment than others. So to make it easier to recycle these low-risk hazardous waste materials, the EPA created a different class of hazardous waste called "universal waste". And even though the criteria for their disposal aren't as strict as for other hazardous wastes, there are still processes and procedures that must be followed to ensure that they are handled and transported safely. Areas included in the program include information on the types of materials that are considered to be “universal waste”, procedures for handling and transporting universal waste items, how to store, handle and dispose of universal waste materials safely, the regulatory requirements for working with and disposing of universal waste and more. 

This course presents fundamental information for employees about universal waste. Upon completing the course, employees should:
- Understand how the EPA's Universal Waste Regulation can make it easier to recycle low-risk hazardous waste.
- Be able to identify the five categories of commonly discarded materials that are considered "universal waste".
- Be able to describe the universal waste disposal process.
- Know the EPA's requirements for handling each type of universal waste.
- Be able to describe some basic procedures that they can use to keep themselves safe when they are working with universal waste.

40 CFR Part 273 – Standards for Universal Waste Management

Our program on Universal Waste discusses the types of hazardous materials that are considered to be "universal waste", and how to handle and dispose of them according to the EPA Universal Waste Regulation. Disposing of hazardous waste can be a long and complicated process, but some hazardous waste materials are less harmful to people and the environment than others. So to make it easier to recycle these low-risk hazardous waste materials, the EPA created a different class of hazardous waste called "universal waste". And even though the criteria for their disposal aren't as strict as for other hazardous wastes, there are still processes and procedures that must be followed to ensure that they are handled and transported safely. Areas included in the program include information on the types of materials that are considered to be “universal waste”, procedures for handling and transporting universal waste items, how to store, handle and dispose of universal waste materials safely, the regulatory requirements for working with and disposing of universal waste and more. 

This course presents fundamental information for employees about universal waste. Upon completing the course, employees should:
- Understand how the EPA's Universal Waste Regulation can make it easier to recycle low-risk hazardous waste.
- Be able to identify the five categories of commonly discarded materials that are considered "universal waste".
- Be able to describe the universal waste disposal process.
- Know the EPA's requirements for handling each type of universal waste.
- Be able to describe some basic procedures that they can use to keep themselves safe when they are working with universal waste.

40 CFR Part 273 – Standards for Universal Waste Management