| Recycling and Disposing of MSA Products |
MSA Products requiring disposal must be evaluated by customers on a case-by-case basis to ensure that disposal is environmentally responsible and in compliance with federal, state, and local laws. Generalized disposal advice is not available because different customers have different disposal requirements. However, MSA will gladly provide technical data regarding the content of our products, thus assisting generators in making waste determinations. Additional information on waste disposal laws is available from federal and state environmental agencies, your organization’s environmental management group, or a qualified consulting or waste disposal firm.
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MSA Calibration Gas Cylinders can be recycled under a special cylinder recycling program designed to help MSA customers, the environment, and retarded citizens of Butler County, PA. |
DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS HAVE DIFFERENT DISPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Disposal requirements depend on several factors and therefore are never a "generic" issue. Each customer's requirements depend on:
1. State regulations. Although U.S. EPA has established federal regulations for waste, a state can enforce its own regulations as long as its program is as strict. In fact, many states have more restrictive programs.
2. Total quantity of waste generated at a site. Exact waste disposal regulations usually depend on a customer's "generator status." This is determined by the amount of waste generated and/or accumulated at the customer's location during a calendar month.
3. How product was used. Prior use of the product may impact disposal requirements. Absorption or contact with substances which can affect the hazardous waste determination must be considered by the generator. Disposal requirements depend on the use and/or hazardous constituents in the waste.
4. Type of business. Requirements may vary depending on who generated the waste. Disposal requirements may depend on whether the generator is a household, industrial facility, commercial operation, or retail establishment.
Per federal and state regulations, the generator and only the generator of a waste can determine if a waste is a regulated hazardous waste. No one else can make that decision. Therefore, MSA cannot make this determination for any customer. For example, we cannot tell a customer (1) where to dispose of an item, (2) what technologies to use to dispose of an item (i.e., incineration, landfill, etc.), (3) to simply send a product back, or (4) that a product is nonhazardous or safe for the trash.
MSA will gladly provide information about product content (i.e., raw materials, components, etc.), which will assist the customer in making a waste determination. This information includes Material Safety Data Sheets and Chemical Information Sheets. Additional information may also be obtained by calling the MSA Customer Service Center at 1-800-MSA-2222.
This page last revised 07/02/2001