Educate yourself on the dangers of improper airbag disposal and familiarize yourself with the new EPA Guidelines.
Nineteen automakers have recalled or agreed to recall nearly 70 million Takata airbags in the US, and about 100 million worldwide. Airbags should be properly disposed of for safety, environmental and regulatory purposes. When airbags are un-deployed the inflators use sodium azide to generate the gas that fills the bag in the event of an accident. Sodium azide in isolation is toxic, dangerous when inhaled and can burn exposed skin.
EPA announced an interim final rule to facilitate the prompt removal of defective Takata airbag inflators from vehicles by dealerships, salvage yards and other locations for safe and environmentally sound disposal. The rule exempts the collection of airbag waste from certain hazardous waste requirements so long as certain conditions are met and the airbag waste is ultimately disposed of at a facility designated to dispose of hazardous waste. EPA is issuing this interim final rule, which will be effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register, in response to the urgent public health issue posed by recalled Takata airbag inflators still installed in vehicles.
For more information on the EPA action, click here. NHADA strongly encourages members to dispose of airbags properly and never attempt to deploy them on site.
NHADA bronze partner Clean Harbors offers an airbag disposal service and more information can be obtained at the Clean Harbors website or by calling Tom Phoenix at 603-216-7101.