**What is it?** Universal waste rules or universal hazardous wastes (UHW) are a set of regulations that provide simplified hazardous waste management procedures for certain wastes that are widely produced in relatively small amounts by households, businesses, and other organizations. **What are some examples?** The following are some examples of universal hazardous wastes: - **Batteries**: These include all types of batteries, such as lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, and lithium-ion batteries. - **Mercury-containing equipment**: This includes thermostats, thermometers, switches, manometers, and gauges. - **Pesticides**: These include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. - **Lights**: These include mercury-containing lamps, such as fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. - **Aerosol cans**: These include empty or partially empty aerosol cans that contain hazardous substances. - **Household hazardous waste**: These are wastes generated by households that are considered hazardous, such as paints, solvents, cleaners, and oils. **What happens if I don't manage this correctly?** Failure to manage universal hazardous wastes correctly can have a number of consequences, including: - **Environmental damage**: Universal hazardous wastes can contaminate soil, water, and air, posing a threat to human health and the environment. - **Human health risks**: Exposure to universal hazardous wastes can cause a number of health problems, including cancer, respiratory problems, and neurological damage. - **Financial penalties**: Generators of universal hazardous wastes who do not manage them correctly can face fines of up to **$37,500 per day for each violation**. - **Criminal penalties**: In some cases, individuals who knowingly violate the universal waste rules can be prosecuted and face criminal penalties, including imprisonment. **What next?** Since there's a few big factors to take into account, we recommend contacting a professional services company, such as PSR, to discuss your specific situation. *Ready to up your regulatory compliance, training, workforce development, or quality? [Visit our website](http://psrok.com), [view our Trunkline portfolio](https://trunkline.com/en/psrok), call 918-497-9053, or [send us an email](mailto:hello@psrok.com) for more information! We’d love to hear from you.*