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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. 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. The disposal of sodium azide shall be classified as a listed hazardous waste and must be disposed of as such. Undeployed air bags can also damage vehicle shredders by releasing sodium azide into the processing equipment and ultimately into the auto "fluff." Contaminated fluff requires costly handling and disposal methods. 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. New Jersey Solid & Hazardous Waste - N.J.A.C. 7:26 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:
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