The EPA is streamlining federal hazardous waste management requirements for cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and CRT glass destined for recycling. The simplified standards aim to increase the collection and recycling of CRTs, which, according to the agency, saves energy, conserves resources, allows recovered lead to be reused and reduces lead sent to landfills.

“A discarded CRT represents an opportunity lost,” said EPA Assistant Administrator Susan Bodine. “This rule will help encourage the reuse and recycling of CRTs, which puts these resources back to productive use, rather than into the nation's landfills.”

Under the new regulations, used, unbroken CRTs are not regulated as hazardous waste unless they are stored for more than a year. Limited storage requirements apply only to CRT recyclers and collectors.

Used, broken CRTs are not regulated as hazardous waste as long as certain good-housekeeping practices are followed. To remain unregulated, CRTs undergoing glass processing must follow the same simplified requirements, except that they must be processed so that lead from the glass is not volatilized. CRT glass that has been processed and sent to a CRT glass manufacturer or a lead smelter also is unregulated, as long as it is kept in storage less than a year.

Exporters shipping broken or unbroken CRTs to another country for recycling must notify the EPA and receive written consent from the receiving country through the agency before shipments can be made.

Visit www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/electron/crt.htm