ECAR Fact Sheet for Arkansas
Air Bag Cartridges
Regulations
Self-Audit Checklist
Best Management Practices
Contacts
Related ECAR Fact Sheets
Other Relevant Resources
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The
following fact sheet was prepared by the ECAR Center staff. Once
prepared, each ECAR Center fact sheet undergoes a review process
with the applicable state environmental agency(ies). You can check
on the status of the review process here.
Please read the disclaimer on the status page. While we have tried
to present a summary of the essential information on this topic,
you should be aware that other items, such as local regulations,
may apply to you.
What You Need to Know
In the past few years, air bag units
have presented a new problem for salvage facilities. The units,
whether made of plastic, vinyl or metal, contain a propellant called
sodium azide, a hazardous substance, which is dangerous if inhaled
and may burn exposed skin. Contaminated fluff requires
costly handling and disposal methods.
Regulations
Air bag cartridges that have not been deployed are hazardous waste unless they are reclaimed. If they are reclaimed, they are not hazardous waste.
Store non-deployed air bag units indoors, protected from the weather until they can be resold or disposed of properly. Non-deployed air bags are valuable, so do not deploy unless necessary.
If the air bags have been deployed, the material is no longer dangerous, and you will not have to take special precautions. Many vehicles now contain multiple air bags (side air bags, for example). Any non-deployed air bags must be removed from the vehicle.The
following BMPs are recommended for the management and recycling of air
bags:
- Leave deployed air bag units in vehicles since deployed
air bags do not pose a risk to human health or the environment.
- Store non-deployed air bags indoors, protected from the
weather until they can be resold.
- If you send air bags, have retained shipping papers
that indicate the name of the declaimer, the date of transfer,
and the quantity of air bags/cartridges shipped.
- If you deploy the air bags, follow these recommendations:
- Disconnect cables from the
vehicle’s battery.
- Wait 20 minutes for the unit's
internal battery to discharge completely.
- Deploy air bags remotely using
the jumper harness/wiring system by using the manufacturer’s
recommended method.
- Do not deploy air bag units using methods that do not meet
industry approval.
Contacts
- For more information, Arkansas Department of Environmental
Quality (ADEQ), Hazardous
Waste Division at 501-682-0833.
- Report any spill of used oil or fuel that discharges
to a water body, or any spill over 25 gallons, to the National
Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 and the Arkansas Department
of Emergency Management at 1-800-322-4012
- To
report an environmental incident or complaint, call 800-327-8411
or 800-EARTH-11.
Related
ECAR Fact Sheets
- Hazardous Waste
Other
Relevant Resources
- Environmental Compliance Guidebook for Arkansas Automotive Dismantlers & Recyclers
- Hazardous and Solid Waste
Fact Sheets
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