Universal Waste Recycling Program

Applied Building Technologies, Inc. is now able to offer a comprehensive and convenient pollution prevention program which provides complete compliance with all federal, state and local regulations for commercial, institutional, municipal and government waste generators. Due to the presence of mercury, PCB’s and other toxic components in lamps, ballasts, batteries and electronic scrap, ABTI believes that the recycling of these materials is preferable to municipal landfill or other disposal options. Recycling maximizes the reuse of the components while minimizing your liability. It is imperative when choosing a vendor for recycling that you determine the level of service offered and the final disposition of all components and residuals, especially the hazardous mercury component.

Why Recycle?

• MERCURY IS A TOXIC METAL THAT IS HAZARDOUS TO BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH.
• AN OUNCE OF MERCURY CONTAMINATES A LAKE FOR CENTURIES.
• 100 FLUORESCENT LAMPS CONTAIN APPROXIMATELY 4 GRAMS OF MERCURY.
• LAMP COMPONENTS ARE SEPARATED, CLEANED AND REUSED.
• BALLASTS CONTAIN POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS "PCB’S" WHICH IS A HAZARDOUS WASTE.
• BATTERIES CONTAIN HEAVY METALS AND CORROSIVE COMPONENTS.
• ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT SUCH AS COMPUTERS, KEYBOARDS, MONITORS AND TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS CONTAIN PRECIOUS AND HEAVY METALS AS WELL AS MERCURY.

Universal Waste Rule (UWR)

The EPA issued the UWR in 1995 to reduce the amount of hazardous waste items entering municipal solid waste. It encourages recycling and proper disposal of certain wastes.

Regulatory and administrative burdens for managing wastes were streamlined. Universal Waste Regulations ban landfilling of items containing mercury and other heavy metals, and mandate that they be properly recycled. Failure to comply leaves you liable for the following penalties:

• Fines up to $25,000 or more
• Damaged public image by not showing environmental responsibility
• Long-term liability for illegally disposed material

Applied Building Technologies, Inc. will help you protect your health by providing a safe, economical and environmentally responsible outlet for recycling mercury products and Universal Waste. Through ABTI’s recycling program you will reduce your environmental liability while showing your commitment to long-term environmental preservation. ABTI uses AERC to recycle your waste at one of its four fully permitted facilities. After your waste has been processed, a certificate of recycling or process can be provided upon request.

Advantages of ABTI’s Universal Waste Recycling Program

• Reduces the chances of facility contamination by minimizing volumes of waste on site.
• Allows each facility to purchase recycling services based on its individual needs.
• Allows for proper management with minimal handling of waste.
• Eliminates the need to fill out complicated shipping documents.
• Reduces administrative burden without reducing control.
• Establishes standard operating procedures from facility to facility.
• Allows one phone call to provide recycling services for the entire month, quarter or year.

The main components of ABTI’s Universal Waste Recycling Program include:

ACCEPTABLE LAMPS

• Straight Fluorescent Lamps
• U-Tubes, Circular Lamps
• Shatter Shields, Coated Lamps
• High Intensity Discharge Lamps
• Incandescent/Halogen Lamps
• Low Pressure Sodium Lamps
• ARC Lamps
• Ultra Violet Lamps

ACCEPTABLE BALLASTS

• Non PCB Lighting Ballast
• PCB Lighting Ballast
• Electronic Ballast

ACCEPTABLE BATTERIES

• Lead Acid, Sealed Lead Acid
• Alkaline (mercury and non-mercury containing)
• Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Iron, Nickel Metal Hydride, Carbon Zinc (mercury and non-mercury containing)
• Zinc Air, Zinc Carbon, Mercuric Oxide, Button Cells, Silver Oxide, Mercury Batteries
• Lithium lon, Lithium Metal, Magnesium Batteries

ACCEPTABLE ELECTRONICS

• Desk Top and Lap Top Computers, Keyboards and Mice
• Mainframe Computer Systems
• Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) and Monitors
• Modems and Telephone Boards
• Hard Drives, Floppy Drives and CD ROMs
• Phones, Faxes and Telecommunications Hardware
• Dot Matrix and Laser Printers
• Computer Boards, CPUs and Memory Chips, Circuit Boards
• Connecting Wires and Cables