Universal Waste

Batteries that are regulated by the EPA as a universal waste include:

• Lead-Acid
• Nickel-Cadmium
• Lithium and Lithium Ion
• Mercury (mercuric oxide or mercury cell)
• Nickel-Metal Hydride
• Any other rechargeable battery

Universal waste batteries should be inventoried on a Hazardous Materials Pickup Request Form and sent to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) for proper recycling. Alkaline batteries are not considered universal waste because they contain no EPA regulated hazardous constituents and can legally be discarded in the trash.

Purdue does not manage pesticide waste as universal waste. All pesticide waste should be inventoried on a Hazardous Materials Pickup Request Form and sent to EHS for proper disposal.

Purdue does not manage mercury-containing equipment waste as universal waste. All mercury-containing equipment waste should be inventoried on a Hazardous Materials Pickup Request Form and sent to EHS for proper disposal.

Light bulbs regulated as universal waste include:

• Fluorescent
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs
• High-intensity discharge
• Ultraviolet
• Flood lamps

Incandescent light bulbs are not considered universal waste because they contain no EPA regulated hazardous constituents and can legally be discarded in the trash.

Note: Broken Fluorescent lamps must be managed as hazardous waste. Submit a completed Hazardous Waste Pickup Request for proper disposal.

Requesting Bulb and Ballast Pickup

Purdue personnel can submit a notification requesting pickup of bulbs/ballasts. Please indicate in this email the quantity (number of boxes, buckets or bins), type of material (bulbs or ballasts), location (building loading dock) of the pickup, and contact information for any questions.

The work order will be routed to the respective zone and a zone lighting technician will come to pick up the material.

Important Reminders:

• University personnel can bring bulbs/ballasts from their buildings/shops to the trailer located near HMMT on Ahlers Road.
• Training is mandatory for all personnel that handles used fluorescent bulbs.
• All lamp containers must be closed and labeled with the words “Universal Waste Bulbs.”

Electrical ballasts are not regulated by the EPA as hazardous waste. However, EHS manages them in a similar fashion. All ballasts can be brought directly to the EHS Laboratory Materials Storage Building (LMSB) (address listed below) for proper recycling; submitting a Hazardous Materials Pickup Request Form is not necessary. When bringing waste to HMMT, all personnel must sign in at the front desk and will receive further instructions.

Electrical ballasts are not regulated by the EPA as hazardous waste. However, EHS manages them in a similar fashion. All ballasts can be brought directly to the EHS Laboratory Materials Storage Building (LMSB) (address listed below) for proper recycling; submitting a Hazardous Materials Pickup Request Form is not necessary. When bringing waste to HMMT, all personnel must sign in at the front desk and will receive further instructions.