Hazardous Waste/Universal Waste

Hazardous Waste

• Introduction
• Contacts
• Laws
• Rules
• Forms
• Additional Information
• Related Programs

Universal Waste

• Introduction
• Contacts
• Laws
• Rules
• Forms
• Additional Information
• Recycling Programs
• Other Related Links

Introduction

In 1979, the Maine Legislature enacted the Maine Hazardous Waste, Septage and Solid Waste Management Act. This Act directed the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection to issue State regulations for the safe management and transportation of hazardous wastes. These rules built upon the minimum Federal rules, tailoring them to Maine's environment and strong reliance on groundwater for drinking water. These rules are called the Maine Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, Chapters 850 through 857.

What is Hazardous Waste?

A hazardous waste is a waste that exhibits a hazardous characteristic or is a listed waste. There are four criteria that define a characteristic waste. They are:
1. Ignitability
2. Corrosivity
3. Reactivity
4. Toxicity
There are also four categories of listed wastes. They are:
1. Non-specific sources, such as a halogenated solvent
2. Specific sources, such as bottom sludge from wastewater treatment of wood preserving processes that use creosote and/or pentachlorphenol
3. Commercial chemical products, intermediates or off-specification products. There are two lists for this category, one for acute wastes and one for non-acute wastes. An example of an acute waste is epinephrine. An example of a non-acute waste is naphthalene.
4. Polychlorinated biphenyl. (PCB's)

Photos of Good, Bad and Ugly Hazardous Waste Situations

Contacts

For more information contact the Hazardous Waste Staff at (207) 287-2651.

Hazardous Waste Laws

Chapter 13 : WASTE MANAGEMENT (HEADING: PL 1987, c. 517, @4 (rpr)) §1301 -  §1319-Y

Chapter 16: SALE OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS AFFECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Chapter 16-C: ARSENIC-TREATED WOOD PRODUCTS (HEADING: PL 2003, c. 457, @2 (new))

Please also see:

Chapter 24: §2165. Regulation of certain dry cell batteries

Chapter 24: §2166. Rechargeable consumer products

Hazardous Waste Rules

• Chapter 700 -- Wellhead Protection: Siting of Facilities that Pose a Significant Threat to Drinking Water (Effective April 24, 2010)
• Chapter 850 -- Identification of Hazardous Wastes
  (Note: Chapter 850 is in Microsoft Word 7.0 format.)
  
• Chapter 851 -- Standards for Generators of Hazardous Waste
  
• Chapter 852 -- Land Disposal Restrictions
  
• Chapter 853 -- Licensing of Transporters of Hazardous Waste
  
• Chapter 854 -- Standards for Hazardous Waste Facilities
  
• Chapter 855 -- Interim Licenses for Waste Facilities for Hazardous Waste
  
• Chapter 856 -- Licensing of Hazardous Waste Facilities
  
• Chapter 857 -- Hazardous Waste Manifest Requirements

Forms

• Abbreviated License Application for Beneficial Use or Reuse of a Hazardous Waste On-Site - Anyone wishing to recycle a hazardous waste for reuse on their site must obtain a license from the Department prior to commencing the activity. This includes distillation or solvent recovery units. Examples of facilities that may wish to use this type of technology include medical laboratories, boatyards and auto body shops. Hazardous chemicals recycled include alcohol, xylene, mineral spirits and other solvents. (MS Word format)
• Renewal Application for Beneficial Reuse of a Hazardous Waste in Solid Form (MS Word format) (pdf format)
  
• Renewal Application for Beneficial Use or Reuse On Site - These licenses must be renewed every five years (MS Word format) (pdf format)
  
• Electronics Demanufacturing Facility Application - (Word format) - (pdf format)
• To obtain an EPA ID# - Link to EPA for form 8700-12: Notification of Regulated Waste Activity.
  
• Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Material Spill or discharge report form (pdf format)
  
• Large Quantity Generator Inspection Checklist (pdf format)
  
• Small Quantity Generator Checklist (pdf format) - should only be used by companies which generate less than 100 kilograms ( 220 pounds or about half of a 55-gallon drum) of hazardous waste per month or less than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds or about one quart) of acute hazardous waste per month.
  
• Small Hazardous Waste Information/Training Sign Up Form - Request for Handbook or other information and to register to be on the mailing list for future training events.

Additional Information

• Biennial Hazardous Waste Legislative Report for 2009 - 2010 (pdf format)
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Schedule - Please contact your Town Office for further details. Note: highlighted events have not been confirmed. See the Household Hazardous Waste Colletion Event Schedule. (Off Site)
• Active Hazardous Waste and Waste Oil Transporters - Transporter license key:
  H (hazardous waste license), HW (hazardous waste and waste oil license or combination license), W (waste oil only)
  (This report is updated at the beginning of every month)
• DEP Licensing Fee Schedule (pdf format)
• Processing Times for New Applications (pdf format)
• Hazardous Waste Handbook for Generators (1.21MB) (pdf format)
• Small Hazardous Waste Information/Training Sign Up Form - Request for Handbook or other information and to register to be on the mailing list for future training events.
  
• Solvent Contaminated Wipers Management
• SPCC Plans for Hazardous Matter
  
• Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest Transporters

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RCRA Program Quality Assurance Plan

• RCRA Program Quality Assurance Plan – It is the goal of the MDEP/RCRA to implement a Quality Assurance Program (QAP) for all environmental activities that generate data. The QAP is a management tool that will help guarantee that data is of sufficient known quality to withstand scientific and legal challenge relative to the use for which the data is obtained. (pdf format)

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Hazardous Waste Enforcement

Questions regarding the Hazardous Waste Enforcement Program, please contact (207) 287-2651.

Related Programs

• Drinking Water Protection
  
• Hazardous Waste Transporters – Questions and answers, licensing, manifesting.
  
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program – Description of program phases with examples.

Universal Waste Introduction

What is Universal Waste?

A universal waste is a hazardous waste that is widely generated by individuals, businesses, and hospitals…by almost anyone. Universal wastes are certain batteries, cathode ray tubes, certain lamps, fluorescent bulbs, mercury devices, mercury thermostats, motor vehicle mercury switches and polychlorinated biphenyl ballasts. Because these items are products, they have not traditionally been recognized for their hazards and have typically been thrown in the trash. These wastes contain hazardous constituents and would fail hazardous waste criteria if they were tested. For example most of these wastes contain heavy metals. These wastes when broken such as in a dumpster or landfill, or when incinerated, release the metals to the environment through either fugitive emissions or from incinerator stacks.

Photos of good, bad and ugly Universal Waste Situations.

Contacts

For more information contact the Hazardous Waste Staff at (207) 287-2651.

Universal Waste Laws

Chapter 16-B: MERCURY-ADDED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (HEADING: PL 1999, c. 779, @2 (new))

Universal Waste Rules

  Excerpts from the Hazardous Waste Management Rules pertaining to Universal Waste
   (15 Pages - Last updated 1/7/03.  In adobe Acrobat(pdf format).

Forms

Electronics Demanufacturing Facility Application - (MS Word format) - pdf format

Universal Bill of Lading Request Form

Universal Waste Central Accumulation Facility Inspection Checklist (pdf format)

Universal Waste Consolidator Inspection Checklist (pdf format)

Universal Waste Generator Inspection Checklist (pdf format)

Universal Waste Information/Training Signup Form - Request Handbook or other information and register to be on the mailing list for future training events

Additional Information

• Alternative Acceptable CRT Container Methods (pdf format)
  
• Consolidators approved to participate in Maine's household TV and Computer Monitor Recycling Program for Calendar Year 2012
  
• Household Appliance Mercury Switch Removal Manual - (pdf format - 33 pages)
  
• Important Notice to Lighting Vendors
  
• Lamp flyer - Information on Fluorescent Bulb Disposal
  
• Mercury Management in the Health Care Environment
  
• Universal Waste Central Accumulation Facilities - (MS Excel format)
• Universal Waste Handbook - (pdf format) - Universal Waste Information/Training Sign up form - Request Handbook or other information and register to be on the mailing list for future training events.
  
• Universal Waste Management & Recycling Companies - (pdf format)
  
• Universal Waste Municipal Collection Sites (MS Excel format) (pdf format) - This is a listing by town of municipal collection sites that accept Universal Waste. Please note there has been a color coding change in the list. The white blocks now signify that we have gathered the information from those towns. Light green means we were not able to reach anyone in that municipal office. Light blue means that they will take from anyone in the state not just for the residents in their town. Retail Store Collection Sites - This is a listing by town of retail store collection sites that collect intact compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). This is a service for homeowners and is free of charge. The CFLs are sent for recycling through this program. If anyone finds any errors or changes to these listings, please contact the Hazardous Waste Program staff at 287-2651.

Recycling Programs

• Computer Recycling In Maine
• EWaste - (Includes Recycle household TVs and Monitors - Municipal collection sites for electronics and mercury-added products (MS Excel format) (pdf format)
• US DOT All battery recyclers and battery collection points and related associations (Off Site)
• Rechargeable Batteries
  
• Thermostat Recycling Program

Other Related Links

Household Hazardous Waste - How to dispose of Household Hazardous Waste, Towns Organizing Household Hazardous Waste Collections, Recycling Program for Mercury Containing Thermostats, Recycling Program for Rechargeable Batteries, Universal Waste, and Computer Recycling in Maine.