Special Management Considerations - Mercury-Containing Equipment

Anyone who handles universal waste mercury-containing equipment must keep in mind some additional special management considerations. Two types of mercury-containing equipment are considered to be universal waste, as follows:

• Mercury-containing equipment that contains mercury in ampules (sealed glass capsules that contain the mercury)
• Mercury-containing equipment in which the mercury is not contained in ampules

Universal waste handlers are permitted to remove the ampules from mercury-containing equipment provided they follow the guidelines in the regulations (refer to 40 CFR 273.23[c][2]). These guidelines are in place to ensure that the ampules are handled in a way that ensures the safety of human health and the environment.

For mercury-containing equipment that does not contain an ampule, handlers must handle the equipment in one of the following ways:

• Contain the entire device in a closed container that prevents the release of mercury into the environment
• Remove the open original housing that holds the mercury and then immediately seal it with an air-tight seal that prevents the release of mercury into the environment

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.