The Mail Recovery Center (MRC) is responsible for handling any mail deemed undeliverable, as well as the policies and procedures that govern the processing and final disposition of undeliverable and non-returnable mail. Do not send trash, food, hazardous or regulated materials (including waste lamps and batteries), retail products (including ReadyPost® and expedited packaging supplies), or excess equipment to the MRC. Handle these items locally according to the following guidelines:
n Trash. Dispose of it in your trash can or dumpster. Recycle paper, cardboard, and plastic through your facility recycling program, and other items according to local regulatory requirements. For more information about recycling, visit blue.usps.gov/sustainability/ national-recycling-operation.htm.
n Food. Donate or dispose of it in your trash can or dumpster. Be sure to check local requirements as some local regulations require separation for composting. For more information, contact your designated USPS® environmental specialist at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/contact.htm.
n Hazardous and Regulated Materials. Determine if any of these materials can be used at your facility or by another Postal Service™ location. Manage and dispose of all hazardous and regulated waste using the Postal Service national waste management contractors in eBuy2 or as directed using the following guidelines:
n Aerosol Cans. Manage as hazardous waste or universal waste, if allowed by state regulations. Use onsite pick-up and disposal services through Safety-Kleen. For more information about managing waste aerosol cans, visit blue.usps.gov/
sustainability/environmental/_pdf/waste/
ecb-aerosolcans.pdf.
n Electronics. Manage as eWaste and send to the Topeka Material Distribution Center. For more information about managing eWaste, visit mtsc.usps.gov/pdf/mmo/2012/mmo04212.pdf.
n Fire Extinguishers. Work with your local fire extinguisher distributor or fire department to refill, exchange, or recycle old fire extinguishers. If those options aren’t available at your location, manage old fire extinguishers as regulated waste. Use onsite pick-up and disposal services through Safety-Kleen. For more information about managing old fire extinguishers, visit mtsc.usps.gov/apps/mtsc/equipdoc/MU_09082017v19n49.pdf.
n Waste Batteries. Most batteries should be managed as universal waste, with some exceptions (see blue.usps.gov/sustainability/battery-recycling.htm). Use eBuy2 to arrange the following:
n Recycling mailback services through Stericycle, Inc., or
n Onsite pick-up through Cleanlites Recycling, Inc.
n Waste Lamps. Manage mercury-containing lamps as universal waste (see blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/waste/ecb-waste-lamps.pdf). Use eBuy2 to arrange the following:
n Recycling mailback services through Stericycle, Inc., or
n Onsite pick-up through Cleanlites Recycling, Inc.
Some states, such as California, have stricter regulations or allow waste such as aerosol cans to be managed as universal waste. For more information, contact your designated USPS environmental specialist at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/contact.htm.
n Excess Equipment. Contact your Asset Accountability Service Center for assistance (see blue.usps.gov/purchase/assetmgnt/am_aasc_ home.htm).
n For management and disposal information for other potentially hazardous and regulated waste, visit blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/waste-mgmt.htm.
n For more information about MRC policies and procedures, including what types of mail can and cannot be processed and Loose-in-Mail handling procedures, visit the MRC website at blue.usps.gov/
supplymanagement/am_mrc_welcome.htm.
n For more information on Cleanlites Recycling, Inc. pick-up and disposal services, visit blue.usps.gov/purchase/_pdf/ops_mlb18-003.pdf.
n For more information on Safety-Kleen pick-up and disposal services, visit blue.usps.gov/purchase/_pdf/ops_mlb18-005.pdf.
— Joint Contribution from Asset Management and
the Office of Sustainability, 12-6-18
