ISRI receives EPA clarification on recycling of automobiles with airbags

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, has received clarification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding whether airbags in automobiles are considered hazardous materials.

The association states in its “ISRI Weekly Leadership Update” email, “Auto recyclers, shredder operators and other airbag stakeholders were left with a number of regulatory questions about both Takata and non-Takata airbags that still remained in vehicles destined for recycling” since the EPA issued a memo in June 2017 on the regulatory status of recalled Takata airbags stored in warehouses.

ISRI says it raised these concerns with the EPA, advocating for the agency to issue a clarifying memo.

“These efforts proved successful when the EPA recently issued such a memo dated July 19,” ISRI writes. “Among other items, the memo confirms that airbags remaining installed in vehicles are considered part of the vehicle being recycling and are therefore exempt scrap metal under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).”

The full memo, including a summary of regulatory interpretations, is available to ISRI members at www.isri.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/airbags-memo-signed-7-19-18.pdf?sfvrsn=2.

More information on the topic of airbags is available from ISRI’s David Wagger at dwagger@isri.org or Billy Johnson at bjohnson@isri.org.