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Regulations BACK to VIRTUAL TOUR 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. There are no regulations governing the final disposal of air bag units, yet they are becoming more common in salvaged vehicles. 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. Air bags that have not been deployed can also damage vehicle shredders by releasing sodium azide into the processing equipment and ultimately into the auto "fluff." Contaminated fluff is considered a hazardous waste, which require costly handling and disposal methods. If the air bags have been deployed, the material is no longer dangerous, and you will not have to take special precautions. But many vehicles now contain multiple air bags (side air bags, for example). Any undeployed air bags must be removed from the vehicle. Once you have removed the intact cartridges, you can send them to a reclamation facility. If you do, you will not have to treat them as a hazardous waste. 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. Minnesota Hazardous Waste Rules Federal EPA Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste When an inspector comes to your facility, there are certain things he or she checks 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 handling procedures.
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:
For more information, contact the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Regional Office closest to you:
*Report petroleum and fuel spills of five or more gallons, and any other chemical spill (including lead-acid batteries) which may cause pollution, to the State Duty Officer at 651-649-5451 or 1-800-422-0798.
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