Universal waste
Definition
A federal category at 40 CFR Part 273 covering batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment, lamps and aerosol cans, handled outside normal trash.
What else to know about universal waste
This is the federal basis for why fluorescent tubes and car batteries cannot go in a container anywhere in the country, regardless of state rules.
Related terms
- Household hazardous waste — Leftover household products that are corrosive, toxic, flammable or reactive — paint, solvents, pesticides, fuel, pool chemicals. Never container material.
Sources
- Primary source Universal Waste — 40 CFR Part 273 — US Environmental Protection Agency · last reviewed 2026-08-17