ECAR Fact Sheet for Georgia
Air Bag Cartridges
Regulations
Self-Audit Checklist
Best Management Practices
Contacts
Related ECAR Fact Sheets
Other Relevant Resources BACK
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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).
Links to the Regulations. Use
the following links to view the regulations pertaining to hazardous
waste.
Georgia
Solid Waste Management Rules
Georgia Hazardous Waste Management Rules
Federal
EPA Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste
Self-Audit Checklist
When
an inspector comes to your facility, there are certain things they
check to see if you are in compliance with environmental regulations.
It makes good sense for you to perform a "self-audit"
and catch and correct problems before they result in penalties.
Also, there are some compliance incentives associated with self-audits
(see Audit
Policy Page).
Use
the following list to audit your procedures for air bag management.
- If
the air bag or air bag cartridge will be sent off-site to a reclamation
facility, verify that:
- The
air bag/cartridge was sent to a facility capable of reclaiming
the items.
- If
the air bag or air bag cartridge will be sent off-site for disposal,
verify that:
- The
air bags/cartridges were managed on-site as hazardous waste,
which includes proper storage.
- The
air bags/cartridges were sent to an approved landfill using
the appropriate procedures.
- Hazardous
waste recordkeeping and reporting requirements have been satisfied.
Best
Management Practices (BMPs)
Most regulations tell you what you
have to do to be in compliance, but they don’t explain how to do
it. That’s where "best management practices" come into play.
BMPs are proven methods that help you to get into compliance and
stay there.
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.
Contacts
- For more information, contact
the Georgia Environmental Protection Division at 404-657-5947
or 888-373-5947.
- To report chemical spills or environmental
problems, call Georgia's 24-hour Statewide Operations Center at
800-241-4113, the Atlanta State Operations Center at 404-656-4300,
or EPA Emergency Response at 404-562-8700.
Related
ECAR Fact Sheets
-
Hazardous
Waste
Other
Relevant Resources
- Georgia
Hazardous Waste Management Branch
- Georgia
- Managing Automotive Repair and Body Waste Shops
- Georgia Industrial Materials Exchange NEW!
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