Updated Guideline for Secure Handling of Recalled Airbag Models
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an interim final rule to ensure the safe and environmentally sound disposal of hazardous waste generated by the large-scale Takata airbag recall. This rule establishes regulatory requirements for the handling, storage, and disposal of particulate airbag inflators that contain potentially dangerous chemical constituents.
The rule imposes specific hazardous waste management standards on entities involved in the recall process, such as automotive manufacturers and waste handlers. This move helps mitigate concerns regarding releases of hazardous substances during transport or disposal and facilitates proper environmental oversight of the recall's waste stream.
The rule was issued in response to the urgent public health issue posed by recalled Takata airbag inflators still installed in vehicles. The recall, announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation in May 2015, constitutes the largest automotive recall in U.S. history, with 19 vehicle manufacturers affected and approximately 65 to 70 million airbag inflators scheduled to be recalled by December 2019.
The risk with the airbag inflators increases with time and exposure to heat and humidity. As of August 2018, these recalls have resulted in fifteen deaths and at least 250 injuries in the United States.
The rule exempts the generation and accumulation of airbag waste at the airbag waste handler location and during transport to an airbag waste collection facility or designated facility, as long as certain conditions are met. Entities that generate the airbag waste, referred to as "airbag waste handlers," include automobile dealerships, automotive salvage and scrap yards, independent repair facilities, and collision centers.
The rule applies to both Takata airbag waste and non-Takata airbag waste. The EPA held two webinars about the interim final rule on November 30, 2018, and December 6, 2018. The presentation slides and recording of the November webinar can be accessed on the CLU-IN web page.
The safe management of recalled airbag waste is regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), but the exemptions and exclusions described in the 2018 EPA Memo can still be used. Once collected at the airbag waste collection facility, the airbag waste will be managed as RCRA hazardous waste and must be sent to RCRA disposal or recycling facilities.
The EPA's interim final rule is necessary to facilitate the expedited removal of defective Takata airbag inflators from vehicles and moves airbag management away from long-term storage and towards final disposal. The rule was effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register on November 30, 2018.
Affected entities should check with their state regulatory agency to determine if the conditional exemption for airbag waste is available for them to use. It is important to note that while the provided search results do not explicitly state the details of this EPA rule, it is consistent with EPA's regulatory role to issue such interim final rules to respond rapidly to environmental hazards posed by mass recalls like Takata airbags. The rule aligns with the EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment by establishing clear procedural and substantive waste management practices for recalled automotive components known to pose chemical hazards.
For more information, the 2017 EPA Takata Airbag Memo and the 2018 EPA Memo, "Regulatory Status of Automotive Airbag Inflators and Fully Assembled Airbag Modules" can be accessed. Additionally, there is a related resource on the Safe Handling, Storage and Treatment of Waste Fireworks, which contains best management practices and standard operating procedures to promote safer management of explosive wastes.
- To ensure proper management of waste generated from the Takata airbag recall, the EPA has exempted the generation and accumulation of airbag waste during transport and at collection facilities, as long as specific conditions are met, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
- To address the health and wellness concerns associated with the recalled Takata airbag inflators, the EPA's interim final rule expedites the removal of defective airbags from vehicles, moving from long-term storage to final disposal, and aligns with the EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment.
- In addition to airbag waste, the EPA's rule applies to non-Takata airbag waste, demonstrating a commitment to recycling and waste management in the broader context of health-and-wellness and environmental safety.
