Search

In California, Emergency Rule Adds Airbag Waste Exemption

Posted on 5/8/2024 by Lion Technology Inc.

Update: November 15, 2024 

California DTSC has proposed to readopt, for 90 additional days, emergency regulations exempting undeployed airbags from some hazardous waste management requirements when handlers meet certain conditions.

DTSC will accept public comments on readopting the exemption for 5 days, beginning when the rule appears on this page: Emergency Regulations Under Review.

If not readopted for an additional 90 days, the exemption for waste airbags will expire on December 5, 2024. 

From DTSC’s announcement: 

“This proposed second readoption of the emergency regulations will ensure, for an additional 90 days, the continued safe and effective management of undeployed airbags under the conditional exemption for airbag waste handlers. During this time DTSC will finalize the regulations through the regular rulemaking process.”


Updated: September 2024

An emergency regulation to adopt relaxed management standards for undeployed airbag waste took effect on March 15 in California and will remain in effect until September 12 December 5, 2024.

The provisions exempt “airbag waste” from some of the Title 22/RCRA hazardous waste management rules, relaxing the requirements for generating, accumulating, and transporting these devices (when certain conditions are met). 

The goal in adding the exclusion for airbag waste is to facilitate the safe return and disposal of defective car airbags, like those impacted by the Takata airbag recall that began in the mid-2010’s. 

In California, Emergency Rule Adds Airbag Waste Exemption

Using the Airbag Waste Exclusion

To take advantage of the exclusion, car dealers, parts retailers, repair shops, and scrap yards, and other handlers of airbag waste must: 

  • Abide by limits on the number of units and accumulation time.
  • Properly package and label airbag waste.
  • Send the waste directly to an approved facility.
  • Comply with US DOT hazmat transportation regulations. 
  • Keep records of all offsite shipments. 

DTSC created an Airbag Waste Management webpage which provides extensive detail about how to manage airbag waste under the conditional exemption. The page provides definitions for key regulatory terms like airbag module, airbag inflator, and airbag waste, and addresses several common questions about the rule in FAQ format.

For more about the nuts-and-bolts of the regulatory and legislative process behind this rulemaking, visit DTSC’s Conditional Exemption for Undeployed Airbags webpage. 


Hazardous Waste Training Built for Pros in California

Get the training or annual re-training required by law to manage your site's hazardous waste in compliance with California's Title 22/RCRA standards for hazardous waste generators.

Sign up for the California Hazardous Waste Management online course to learn at your own pace, pause and resume to fit your schedule, and have access to training from any internet connection.

Prefer training with an instructor?
For in-person workshops in California, expert-led webinar training, and additional online course options (including a streamlined refresher!) visit Lion.com/CA.

Tags: airbags, California, hazardous waste management

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The price was reasonable, the time to complete the course was manageable, and the flexibility the online training allowed made it easy to complete.

Felicia Rutledge

Hazmat Shipping Professional

The instructor was excellent. They knew all of the material without having to read from a notepad or computer.

Gary Hartzell

Warehouse Supervisor

Excellent job. Made what is very dry material interesting. Thoroughly explained all topics in easy-to-understand terms.

David Hertvik

Vice President

These are the best commercial course references I have seen (10+ years). Great job!

Ed Grzybowski

EHS & Facility Engineer

The instructor does a great job at presenting material in an approachable way. I have been able to save my company about $30,000 in the last year with what I have learned from Lion!

Curtis Ahonen

EHS&S Manager

This is the best RCRA training I've experienced! I will be visiting Lion training again.

Cynthia L. Logsdon

Principal Environmental Engineer

I will never go anywhere, but to Lion Technology.

Dawn Swofford

EHS Technician

Lion is at the top of the industry in compliance training. Course content and structure are updated frequently to make annual re-training enjoyable. I like that Lion has experts that I can contact for 1 year after the training.

Caroline Froning

Plant Chemist

More thorough than a class I attended last year through another company.

Troy Yonkers

HSES Representative

I attended training from another provider and learned absolutely nothing. Lion is much better. Hands down.

Nicole Eby

Environmental Specialist

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Spot and correct 4 of the most common universal waste errors before they result in a notice of violation during a Federal or state inspection.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.