Fluorescent lights (regulation)

PART XVI.

ADDITIONAL UNIVERSAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS

9 VAC 20-60-1495. General Provisions
9 VAC 20-60-1505. Additional Universal Wastes - Mercury-containing Lamps

9 VAC 20-60-1495. General Provisions
A. Hazardous wastes defined to be universal wastes in the texts incorporated by reference at 9 VAC 20-60-260 and 9 VAC 20-60-273 and hazardous wastes as defined in 9 VAC 20-60-1505 shall be universal wastes for the purposes of these regulations, the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations.

B. A universal waste maybe managed under the general provisions as hazardous waste or under the special provisions as universal waste. The generator shall determine under which provisions the waste shall be managed and subsequent management shall be consistent with that determination by the generator.

9 VAC 20-60-1505. Additional Universal Wastes - Mercury-containing Lamps
A. "Mercury-containing lamp" means an electric lamp into which mercury was intentionally introduced by the manufacture for the operation of the lamp. "Electric lamp" means the bulb or tube portion of a lighting device specifically designed to produce radiant energy, most often in the ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Electric lamps include, but are not limited to: incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, high pressure sodium lamps, high intensity discharge lamps, mercury vapor lamps, metal halide lamps, and neon lamps.

B. A used mercury-containing lamp becomes a waste on the date the handler permanently removes it from its fixture. An unused mercury-containing lamp becomes a waste on the date the handler discards it.

C. In addition to the provisions of Part III and other parts of these regulations pertaining to universal wastes, the following special requirements apply to universal wastes that are mercury-containing lamps:

1. All handlers (both small quantity handlers and large quantity handlers) of universal waste must manage universal waste mercury-containing lamps in accordance with the requirement of 9 VAC 20-60-273 that apply to all universal wastes.

2. All handlers (both small quantity handlers and large quantity handlers) of universal waste must manage mercury-containing lamps so as to prevent releases of any universal waste or component thereof to the environment. This includes, but is not limited to:

a. Containing unbroken lamps in packaging that will minimize breakage during normal handling conditions;

b. Containing broken lamps in packaging that will minimize releases of lamp fragments and residues;

c. Managing lamps so as to minimize breakage;

d. Immediately containing all releases of residue from the lamps; and

e. Determining if any material resulting from a release, clean-up residues from a spill or breakage, or other solid waste generated from handling the lamps is hazardous waste in accordance with 9 VAC 20-60-261. If these wastes are found to be hazardous waste, they shall be managed under the requirements for hazardous waste contained in these regulations.

3. Universal waste mercury-containing lamps may be crushed or intentionally broken on-site to reduce their volume; however, breaking, crushing, handling, and storage must occur in a safe and controlled manner that minimize the release of mercury to the workplace and the environment and must comply with 29 CFR 1910.1000. The procedure for breaking, crushing, handling and storing of the lamps must be documented and use a mechanical unit specifically designed for the process and incorporating the containment and filtration of process air flows to remove mercury-containing vapors and dusts.

4. In addition to the labeling and marking requirements of 9 VAC 20-60-273, universal waste mercury-containing lamps and containers of mercury-containing lamps must be labeled or marked clearly and legibly "Universal Waste Mercury-containing Lamps", "Waste Mercury-containing Lamps" or "Used Mercury-containing Lamps".